Services

NHS Pharmacy First Service

New FREE Pharmacy First Programme Launched by NHS on 31st January 2024

The Pharmacy First Service include seven new clinical pathways, which can also be found on the NHS England website. These enable pharmacists to offer advice to patients and supply NHS medicines where clinically appropriate (including some prescription-only medicines under Patient Group Directions), to treat 7 common health conditions.

*When you go for your appointment, ask the staff if you're eligible for the Pharmacy First scheme.

  • The objectives of the Pharmacy First advanced service are:

    • To offer patients the opportunity to access appropriate urgent care services in a convenient and easily accessible community pharmacy setting.

    • To free up clinician capacity in the above settings, for the treatment of patients with higher acuity conditions.

    • To identify ways that individual patients can self-manage their health more effectively with the support of community pharmacists and to recommend solutions that could prevent inappropriate use of UEC services in the future.

    • To provide urgent access to patients who are not registered with a GP for treatment of low acuity minor illnesses, and to ensure equity of access to the emergency supply provision, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay for the cost of the medicine requested.

    • To further utilise the clinical skills of community pharmacy teams to complete episodes of care for patients and improve access, displacing activity from general practice and urgent care settings.

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    Available in DMB Chemist Tower Pharmacy

  • Clinical pathways are for patients presenting symptoms potentially associated with any of the following conditions:

    • Sinusitis

    • Sore throat

    • Ear ache

    • Infected insect bite

    • Impetigo

    • Shingle

    • Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women

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    Available in DMB Chemist Tower Pharmacy

  • List of minor illness symptoms groups identified for referral to your community pharmacist:

    • Acne, spots, and pimples

    • Allergic reaction

    • Ankle or foot pain or swelling

    • Athlete’s foot

    • Bites or stings, insect, or spider

    • Blisters

    • Constipation

    • Cough

    • Cold and flu

    • Diarrhoea

    • Ear discharge or ear wax

    • Earache

    • Eye, red or irritable

    • Eye, sticky or watery

    • Eyelid problems

    • Hair loss

    • Headache

    • Hearing problems or blocked ear

    • Hip, thigh, or buttock pain or swelling itch

    • Knee or lower leg pain

    • Lower back pain

    • Knee or lower leg pain

    • Lower back pain

    • Lower limb pain or swelling

    • Mouth ulcers

    • Nasal congestion

    • Pain and/or frequency passing urine

    • Rectal pain

    • Scabies

    • Scratches and grazes

    • Sinusitis

    • Shoulder pain

    • Skin, blisters or rash

    • Sleep difficulties

    • Sore throat

    • Teething

    • Tiredness

    • Toe pain or swelling

    • Vaginal discharge

    • Vaginal itch or soreness

    • Vomiting

    • Wound problems – management of dressings

    • Wrist, hand, or finger pain or swelling

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    Available in DMB Chemist Tower Pharmacy

  • Referral to your community pharmacy may be made after contacting one of the following:

    • NHS 111 (by telephone or on-line)

    • 999 service

    • Your own GP practice

    • A primary care out-of-hours service

    • An UEC setting (e.g.an ED, UTC, UCC)

    Alternatively, patients are able to access the service by attending or contacting the pharmacy without the need for referral.

    Book a free consultation

    Available in DMB Chemist Tower Pharmacy

Book a free consultation today

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Our expert team are on hand to answer queries about prescriptions and offer health advice.