Representative body Community Pharmacy England has reached agreement with the government and the NHS to introduce a new national Pharmacy First service and other changes to pharmacy funding and services.
The agreement, which sets out how the £645 million investment promised as part of the plan to restore access to primary care will be used to support community pharmacy services, is the result of months of complex negotiations.
What is a pharmacy first and foremost?
Under the agreement, a new Pharmacy First service will launch on 31 January 2024, providing advice and, where appropriate, NHS-funded treatment for seven common conditions, including sore throat and shingles, subject to conditions being met. IT systems provided. on the spot.
From 1 December 2023, a comprehensive pharmacy contraception service will also be launched. This means millions of women will be able to get free contraceptive pills in stores without having to visit a GP, saving 10 million visits a year. No testing is required for the mini-pill (progestin only), which is also the case in other situations, NHS England said.
Pharmacies will need to register for the new service, meaning it will not be immediately available everywhere in England. As more pharmacies join the scheme, the nhs.uk website will be updated to ensure people can check which locations offer the service.
What was the reaction?
Janet Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England, said: “It makes sense to use community pharmacies as a first port of call for medical advice, access to contraception and health checks such as blood pressure checks.”
“Community pharmacies employ highly trained healthcare professionals, and empowering them to do more is the logical next step in the development of primary care. These new services will help patients and the public, and will reduce the burden on GPs and the wider health system.”
Boots said he would launch an NHS Pharmacy First service in England early next year.
Seb James, the company’s managing director for the UK and Ireland, said: “We are working with our pharmacy teams to introduce these new services to patients in England. We have previously been commissioned to provide similar services to the NHS in Scotland and Wales and have been very popular with our patients and pharmaceutical team members.”
Some scientists and pharmacists are concerned about the new plan and its potential impact on antibiotic resistance.
They say experience with Pharmacy First programs in Scotland and Wales, as well as many local programs in England, shows that pharmacists are more careful than other health professionals when dispensing antibiotics.
There are also concerns that pharmacists will not be able to see enough information about patients’ GPs and that different communities and areas will be unable to access the new service.
However, public opinion polls show that this measure is welcomed by the population. A survey of nearly 2,000 adults aged 16 and over, carried out by Ipsos last December on behalf of NHS England, found that the majority of patients (91 per cent) had used a community pharmacy in the past year to find out about medicines, health problems or seek advice regarding injury. or what medical care they should seek, said they received good advice.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.