Pharmacists in England will be able to offer treatment for 12 common conditions this autumn, allowing people to seek advice and treatment at their local pharmacy without first having to see their GP.
Pharmacists already offer advice and can prescribe medication for a range of common conditions, including sore throats, impetigo and urinary tract infections. The expansion of the initiative will mean five more common conditions will be included, including ear infections, migraine and acne. NHS England said the move would ease pressure on busy GP surgeries and A&E departments and enable people to access treatment quickly and conveniently.
The expansion of the Pharmacy First scheme, launched in 2024, allows people to receive care for certain common conditions from qualified pharmacists rather than having to book a GP appointment. These currently include sore throat, earache, sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, infected insect bites and urinary tract infections.
New figures show that the service has delivered 14 million consultations since its launch in February 2024, including two million consultations for acute sore throats and more than 1.7 million for urinary tract infections.
Building on the success of the Pharmacy First initiative, and in a bid to reduce pressure on GPs and A&E departments, particularly during the busy winter months, the NHS says it wants to make it as easy as possible for people to get help when they need it for everyday conditions.
People will therefore be able to seek help for five more common conditions from their local pharmacy:
Initially, this will be available at participating pharmacies as the scheme is rolled out.
NHS figures show that in 2024–25 there were more than 77,000 hospital admissions for diseases of the ear, 47,500 linked to migraine, 5,000 for vasomotor and allergic rhinitis, and 681 for scabies. It is estimated that, once the initiative is fully rolled out, up to two to three million consultations for the five conditions could take place each year in community pharmacies. This could potentially free up thousands of GP appointments and hospital visits.
Andy Burnham said people were “fed up with the scramble for routine appointments” and wanted help close to home, without having to take more time off work or wait to be seen.
“For five more common conditions, you’ll be able to walk into your local pharmacy and get treated on the spot,” he said.
Initially, a few hundred pharmacies will offer treatment for the five new conditions, NHS England said, with a gradual rollout that should see thousands of community pharmacies across England taking part.
In addition, local pharmacies offer support with healthy eating, exercise, stopping smoking, blood pressure monitoring, contraception, and flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
