Explaining the NHS Pharmacy First advanced service
The new NHS Pharmacy First advanced service launched on Wednesday 31 January 2024, as announced in November 2023 while some pharmacies will adapt the scheme by March 2024.
More than 10,000 pharmacies have registered to deliver the service to date.
Along with expansions to the pharmacy blood pressure checking and contraception services, the Pharmacy First advanced service is in place to save up to 10 million general practice team appointments a year.
Furthermore, the service intends to help patients access quicker and more convenient care, including the supply of appropriate medicines for minor illness.
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) – new element
- Pharmacy First (urgent repeat medicine supply) – previously commissioned as the CPCS.
- Pharmacy First (NHS referrals for minor illness) – previously commissioned as the CPCS.
Understanding the Pharmacy First service
- New advanced service which is optional that will include seven new clinical pathways
- Builds on the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS), which most pharmacies provide – expectation is that most pharmacies will choose to provide the extended Pharmacy First service
- The service will consist of three elements:
- Referrals for minor illness consultations with a pharmacist
- Urgent supply of repeat meds and appliances
- Clinical pathway consultations
Clinical pathway consultations
The NHS is delivering a major transformation in the way it delivers care to patients needing to see a GP.
The goal is to minimise stress on GP practices while offering support in more places so patients can be seen in a quicker timeframe.
Community pharmacies can offer treatment for seven common conditions without patients needing to see a GP.
Pharmacists providing advice and NHS-funded treatment, where clinically appropriate, can assess and treat patients for seven common conditions:
7 conditions managed by Pharmacy First service
The seven conditions of the clinical pathway with age range 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 |
The Medicines Ethics and Practice defines a Distance Selling Pharmacy as a pharmacy service where patients don’t physically present a prescription. Instead, pharmacy staff receive the prescription by post or electronically, such as via EPS (electronic prescription service).
Managing your repeat prescriptions
Along with the Pharmacy First Service, stay on top of your repeat prescriptions by using the NHS App. If you do not already use the NHS App, it is something to consider.
If you would like to manage your repeat prescriptions easily from the NHS App, visit this link on our website to learn more.
Development of clinical pathways
The following outlines the development of clinical pathways:
- Multi-professional expert working group to develop robust clinical pathways for each of the 7 conditions
- Adherence to NICE guidelines
- National template for PGDs developed by Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS)
- Pharmacy Quality Scheme antimicrobial stewardship foundation
- AMR Programme Board Oversight National Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer for England
Other benefits
Patients will have the opportunity to conveniently access the novel component of the clinical pathway either by visiting the pharmacy in person or, when deemed suitable, by engaging in a video consultation.
Furthermore, patients will be granted access to this exceptional service through referrals received 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)
Overall, the Pharmacy First advanced service has been introduced to benefit both patients and staff respectively.
List of Pharmacies
Below is a list of pharmacies in the Basildon area that are offering the Pharmacy First Scheme to patients.
List of pharmacies in the Basildon area offering Pharmacy First services:
This list will be updated accordingly.
| Pharmacy Name | Pharmacy Address |
| AA Pharmacy | AA Pharmacy, 98 Whitmore Way, Basildon SS143JT |
| Allcures Pharmacy -Felmores | Allcures Pharmacy, 7 Felmores End, Felmores, Basildon, Essexx SS13 1PN |
| Allcures Pharmacy -Whitmore Way | Allcures Pharmacy, 562 Whitmore Way, Basildon SS14 2ER |
| Allcures Pharmacy -Clayhill Road | Allcures Pharmacy, 144 Clay Hill Road, Basildon SS16 5DF |
| Boots Pharmacy – Mayflower | Boots Pharmacy, Unit 6b Mayflower Retail Park, Gardiners Link, Basildon SS14 3HZ |
| Boots Pharmacy – Pitsea | Boots Pharmacy, 8 Northlands Pavement, Pitsea Centre, Pitsea, Basildon SS13 3DU |
| Boots Pharmacy – Ballards Walk | Boots Pharmacy, Ballards Walk, 31 Ballards Walk, Basildon SS15 5HL |
| Britannia Pharmacy – Timberlog Lane | Britannia Pharmacy, 213 Timberlog Lane, Basildon SS14 1PB |
| Clayhill Road Pharmacy | Clayhill Pharmacy, 465 Clay Hill Road, Basildon SS16 4EX |
| Noak Bridge Pharmacy | Noak Bridge Pharmacy LTD, Coppice Lane, Basildon SS15 4JS |
| Rowlands Pharmacy | Rowlands Pharmacy, 418 Whitmore Way, Basildon SS14 2HB |
| Sach Chemist | Sach Chemist, 10 Broadway, High Road, Pitsea, Basildon SS13 3AT |
| Tesco Pharmacy – Mayflower Retail Park | Tesco Mayfair Stores, Mayflower Retail Park, Gardiners Link, Basildon SS14 3HZ |
| Tesco Pharmacy – Pitsea | Tesco Pitsea, Off Station Lane, Pitsea, Basildon SS13 3JU |
| Vanas Limited | Vanas Limited, 134 Rectory Road, Pitsea, Basildon SS13 2AJ |
Visit the NHS website via this link to learn more about the Pharmacy First advanced service.
