NHS Pharmacy First Service
The new Pharmacy First Service will enable community pharmacists to complete episodes of care for patients without the need for the patient to visit their general practice. This, alongside expansions to the pharmacy blood pressure checking and contraception services
The Pharmacy First Service builds on the previous Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) by enabling community pharmacies to manage patients for seven common conditions, following specific clinical pathways. The overall service consists of three core elements:
- Pharmacy First (clinical pathways)
- Pharmacy First (urgent repeat medicine supply)
- Pharmacy First (NHS referrals for minor illness)
These conditions are:
| Clinical pathway | Age range |
| Acute Otitis Media* | 1 to 17 years |
| Impetigo | 1 year and over |
| Infected insect bites | 1 year and over |
| Shingles | 18 years and over |
| Sinusitis | 12 years and over |
| Sore throat | 5 years and over |
| Uncomplicated urinary tract infections | Women 16-64 years |
Patients will access the new clinical pathway element by walking into the pharmacy directly or where appropriate, by contacting them by video consultation. In addition, patients will access the service via referrals from:
- NHS 111 (online, telephone and NHS App)
- integrated urgent care clinical assessment services
- urgent treatment centres
- emergency departments
- 999
- general practice (GPs cannot make a referral for urgent repeat medicine supply)