The NHS Pharmacy first is an NHS England initiative providing convenient treatment closer to patients’ homes. Lots of conditions are more appropriate for a consultation with a community pharmacist, rather than a GP. Our team will discuss your symptoms and, if appropriate, refer you for a same day appointment with our community pharmacist colleagues at a local community pharmacy for a personal consultation. You will have a choice over which pharmacy you are referred to.
What is an NHS community pharmacist consultation?
- It’s a one to one consultation with a fully qualified pharmacist at a local pharmacy
- It involves a clinical assessment and conversation with the pharmacist
- The consultation is normally by phone in the first instance or in the privacy of a consultation room at the pharmacy
- The pharmacist will normally contact the patient within 4 working hours
How can the pharmacist help?
- The pharmacist has the right clinical training to assess you and recommend the best treatment for some common conditions
- If your symptoms suggest it’s more serious, the pharmacist will help you to get an urgent GP appointment if needed
- If you don’t need any treatment the pharmacist will be able to provide reassurance and advice, for example, a minor ailment that may get better on its own
- To help with symptoms, the pharmacist may suggest an over the counter medicine that can be purchased
What happens next?
The pharmacist will make a record of the outcome and send it back to your GP.
What conditions can the pharmacist treat?
Pharmacists have been backed by government and the NHS to provide a new ‘Pharmacy First’ service. The service enables pharmacists to offer advice to patients and supply NHS medicines (including antibiotics), where clinically appropriate,
Local Pharmacies that provide this service include:
- Byron’s pharmacy
- Nash chemist
- Fernville pharmacy
- Jupiter chemist
- Superdrug, Marlowes
- Boots, Marlowes
- Boots Stoney Croft
- Woods pharmacy
- Gadebridge pharmacy
What conditions are not referred to the pharmacist?
Generally, this will include:
- Children under 1 year old
- Immunosuppressed patients
- Severe symptoms
- Pregnant patients
- Symptoms/conditions that have lasted more than 3 weeks
This service will help free up GPs to deal with more complex health needs and ensure that everyone gets treated at the right time, by the right healthcare professional.