Summary
Community Pharmacy England has produced a set of resources for pharmacy teams aimed at GPs, PCNs and other stakeholders to help increase understanding of the Pharmacy First service.
Pharmacy First, which was launched in January 2024, enables patients to be referred into community pharmacy for seven common conditions following defined clinical pathways.
Expanding on work that was already being done through the Community Pharmacy Consultation Service, pharmacists can now supply an appropriate NHS medicine, if clinically appropriate, for earache, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.
To improve understanding and engagement with the GP referral pathway into the Pharmacy First service, Community Pharmacy England is encouraging LPCs (Local Pharmaceutical Committees) and pharmacy teams to share the new resources with local GP practices, PCNs (Primary Care Networks), LMCs (Local Medical Committees) and other stakeholders.
The resources include an animation, infographic and social media assets explaining when referrals to pharmacies can be made, consultations that pharmacists provide and the benefits of the service.
The resources can be accessed on the Community Pharmacy England website and will sit on a new Pharmacy First: information for GPs webpage.
Further information about the Pharmacy First service, including GP resources, can also be found on the PCB website.
