Community pharmacies in the North East and Yorkshire have provided more than one million patient consultations through Pharmacy First, NHS figures show.
Between February 2024 and May this year there were 1,020,000 consultations for the three elements of Pharmacy First – treatment for seven common conditions, minor illnesses, and urgent medicine supply.
Keith Kendall, Regional Senior Pharmacy Integration Lead for NHS North East and Yorkshire, said: “The service is helping people get quick and convenient access to vital services first time without the need to see a GP, with community pharmacy and general practice teams working together to provide care for local communities.
“At this time of year conditions like sunburn, insect bites, sore throats and minor infections don’t need to take up GP appointments or clog up emergency services – community pharmacies are ideally placed to treat them quickly and professionally.”
Pharmacy First enables patients to get treatment and medicines from their local pharmacy for sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infection, minor illnesses, and urgent medicine supply – without needing to see a GP.
The initiative ties in with the Government’s ambition to bring more care closer to people’s homes, as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan for England, with the NHS prioritising primary care access.
Click or tap here to read more about Pharmacy First.