NHS Pharmacy First: Fed up waiting for a GP appointment?

What is Pharmacy First?

NHS Pharmacy First is a new service that covers a range of minor ailments these conditions include:

• Sinusitis (affecting people over the age of 12)
• Sore throat (affecting anyone over the age of 5)
• Earache (affecting children 1 – 17 years old)
• Infected Insect Bites (affecting children 1+)
• Impetigo  (affecting children 1+)
• Shingles (affecting those over 18)
• Uncomplicated UTIs in women (those between 16 - 64)

NHS Pharmacy First is a FREE service offered by Letchworth Pharmacy along with many other community pharmacies across England. It allows patients to access free NHS healthcare, advice and treatment for minor ailments, directly from a pharmacist, without needing a doctor's appointment. This service aims to provide readily available healthcare solutions for seven common health issues, with more to come in the future. Watch this space!

Pharmacy First service makes FREE NHS healthcare more accessible, because community pharmacies like Letchworth Pharmacy are based in the heart of communities, within easy walking distance for most people.

Is Pharmacy First Available today?

YES! The new service was introduced on the 31^st of January this year (2024). Rolled out across the UK, with more than 90% of pharmacies already providing this service. Pharmacy First is a promising addition to our healthcare system because it can help reduce waiting times for many thousands of patients wanting help with these common conditions. Research shows that pharmacy first could free up nearly 60 MILLION GP appointments and 8% of A&E Visits. Just think about that!

How Does Pharmacy First Work?

Accessing Pharmacy First services is simple and straightforward:

• Patients experiencing minor ailments can visit Letchworth Pharmacy and speak directly with a pharmacist or other team member.
• Assessment: The pharmacist can conduct an assessment to understand the patient's symptoms, medical history, and other medications they may be taking.
• Advice and Treatment: After the assessment stage, the pharmacist provides appropriate advice and treatment options, which can include over-the-counter medications, lifestyle recommendations, or, in some cases, prescription medications under a pharmacist’s prescribing authority.
• Referral: If the pharmacist determines the patient's condition requires further medical attention beyond the scope of Pharmacy First, they may refer the patient to a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Call the pharmacy or book an appointment to utilise this brand-new service:

Benefits of Pharmacy First

The Pharmacy First service offers numerous benefits for both patients and the healthcare system, helping manage the massive NHS workload:

• NHS Pharmacy First is a free service creating more accessibility for patients to receive quality health care.

• Convenience: Pharmacy First eliminates the need for patients to wait for a doctor's appointment for minor ailments, providing timely access to healthcare services through pharmacies.

• Cost-Effective: By utilising the expertise of pharmacists for minor ailment management, Pharmacy First reduces unnecessary visits to the GP or hospital resulting in savings from back-and-forth trips to the GP helping patients and the healthcare system overall.

• Expert Advice: Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals they can provide expert advice on a wide range of health-related issues, ensuring patients receive accurate information and the appropriate treatment.

• Reduced Pressure on Healthcare Services: By allowing minor ailments to be treated at pharmacies, Pharmacy First helps alleviate the burden on doctors and emergency services, allowing them to focus on more serious medical issues.

• Benefits to patients: Pharmacy First offers many new benefits to the public, a drastic reduction in wait times for treatment around common health conditions. More affordable access to these services, as you can simply visit your local pharmacy, and this service provides patients with more variety in avenues to access healthcare. Meaning there is no longer only one way to have these ailments addressed.

The Value of Pharmacists

Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals. Pharmacists undergo at least five years of higher education before they can register to practice. Pharmacists have an incredibly detailed knowledge of drugs and medications. In short, they are THE medicines specialists among all healthcare professionals. Furthermore, Letchworth pharmacy is even more fortunate as Linda our pharmacist is an Independent Prescriber (IP). 

How does this service help the NHS?

Pharmacy First is a boon to the NHS and, of course, our patients. This new service means community pharmacies can help shoulder the massive burden the NHS faces, but this is not simply a way to shift the burden. Pharmacy First creates more opportunities for pharmacists to educate and immediately treat minor health problems. Education is power! Patients equipped with knowledge about these conditions will be able to deal with them more appropriately. Thus, further helping to address the massive workload on the NHS and reduce waiting times. There are huge  benefits for patients too: Providing swift service to address 7 common complaints. Nothing is worse than waiting weeks to get a GP appointment to diagnose and treat a painful sore throat or uncomfortable UTI! 

Conclusion

Pharmacy First is an invaluable addition to the healthcare landscape, offering convenient and accessible services for the management of minor ailments. By leveraging the expertise of pharmacists and promoting self-care, Pharmacy First not only improves patient outcomes but also contributes to more efficient healthcare delivery. Finally, we may be able to move away from waiting weeks for GP appointments when addressing simple conditions! This new service provides the NHS with a lifeline to help manage the burden of the country's healthcare system, providing an accessible alternative for patients to seek help and advice. Embracing Pharmacy First empowers individuals to take charge of their health and promotes a healthier, more accessible healthcare system for all.

Pharmacy First to the Rescue??