In an attempt to relieve pressure on GPs and hospitals, seven additional conditions can now be treated at local pharmacies.
Instead of booking an appointment with your doctor if you have a minor health complaint, patients can go straight to their chemists to receive medication, as part of the new Pharmacy First system.
What are the seven conditions?
The seven ailments pharmacies are now able to treat include sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and urinary tract infections, as long as they are not complicated.
The extended care has been on offer since the end of January, and the NHS has recently launched a campaign, entitled Help Us, Help You, to raise awareness of the additional services.
Dr Claire Fuller, NHS England medical director for primary care, said: “The changes that the NHS has made to community pharmacy services mean that people now have a new easy and convenient way of managing and treating many common illnesses.”
Pharmacy First
The NHS recently released adverts on TV, radio, bus stops and billboards to make the public more aware of the new Pharmacy First services, reminding people they do not have to call their doctors for certain conditions.
This comes after a recent Ipsos Mori study revealed one in five people do not normally contact or visit a community pharmacy. Therefore, raising awareness of Pharmacy First could encourage more people to take advantage of their local services.
Free up GP appointments
One of the major benefits of seeing a pharmacy instead of ringing the doctors is it is expected to free up around ten million GP appointments every year.
Many people struggle to get through to their GPs, as they are in such high demand, so Pharmacy First could mean it is easier for those who really need to see a doctor to be able to do so.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “This bold new approach will free up to ten million GP appointments per year, helping to cut waiting lists and deliver our long-term plan for the NHS.”
Get help quicker
What’s more, as patients do not have to join long waiting queues to see their GP, they can receive treatment earlier and start recovery sooner.
Mr Sunak added: “It will also save people time and hassle to get the straightforward medication they need quickly, because there’ll be no need to call ahead and no need to make an appointment.”
Patients will still be seen in a private consultation room and checked over by pharmacists, who have had to train for five years in a clinical setting, so they can be reassured they will receive the care they need without having to wait a long time for their appointment.
Should they feel like the patient needs further medical assistance, they can signpost them to the service they require.