Column: Two years of thinking Pharmacy First
The NHS Pharmacy First service celebrated its second anniversary at the end of January.
In that time, pharmacists in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have provided more than 100,000 Pharmacy First consultations for a range of illnesses which previously would have needed a GP appointment.
People can use Pharmacy First to access treatment for seven common health conditions, without needing to see a GP. Those conditions are:
- earache (anyone aged 1 to 17 years)
- impetigo, a skin condition (anyone aged 1 year and over)
- infected insect bites (anyone aged 1 year and over)
- shingles (anyone aged 18 years and over)
- sinusitis (anyone aged 12 years and over)
- sore throat (anyone aged 5 years and over)
- urinary tract infections, sometimes known as water infections (women aged 16 to 64 years)
Patients are seen in a private consultation room at the pharmacy. Once you’ve been assessed, if it’s appropriate, the pharmacist can provide NHS prescription medicines for these conditions, for free or for a NHS prescription charge, depending upon whether you have a right to free NHS prescriptions. Treatments can include antibiotics, when appropriate.
Alternatively, if we think you need to be seen by a GP or other healthcare service, we can refer you on to the right place to get the care that you need.
Here at Rowlands Pharmacy in Warsop, we’ve noticed that parents with poorly children have found Pharmacy First particularly helpful, especially for conditions like sore throats and otitis media (earache). Being able to access treatments quickly and conveniently from a local pharmacy means the children are well and back to school sooner, which helps parents to keep their child’s school attendance up and often prevents them from taking time off work.
I am proud that we are one of over 200 local community pharmacies in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire providing NHS Pharmacy First services.
It is very rewarding for me to know that we are making a difference in the community and allowing our busy GP practices more time to focus on patients with more complex conditions.
More information about Pharmacy First is available at www.notts.icb.nhs.uk/your-services/community-pharmacy
Think Pharmacy First.
Rob Severn, Pharmacist
Rowlands Pharmacy, Sherwood St, Warsop, Notts