NHS England Pharmacy First campaign uses accessible formats to remind people community pharmacies can offer treatments for certain conditions without a GP appointment
The NHS Pharmacy First campaign is raising awareness about Community pharmacies offering treatment and when appropriate some prescription medicine, for seven common conditions without patients needing to see a GP, as part of a major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care.
Highly trained pharmacists at more than nine in ten pharmacies can now assess, treat, and when appropriate, provide some prescription medicine for the following conditions, without the need for a GP appointment:
- earache (for those aged between 1 and 17)
- impetigo
- infected insect bites
- shingles
- sinusitis
- sore throat
- urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women aged 16-64.
You can still speak to your doctor but your pharmacist will often be able to help. You do not have to book an appointment.
Available at the heart of local communities, community pharmacy teams have the right clinical training to give people the health advice they need, with no appointment necessary and private consultations available. Community pharmacists will signpost patients to other local services where necessary.
By expanding the services community pharmacies offer, the NHS is aiming to help free up GP appointments and give people more choice in how and where they access care.
Don’t wait for minor health concerns to get worse – think pharmacy first and get seen by your local pharmacy team.
Resources have been produced in alternative formats including easy read, large print, audio, BSL and braille versions.
All assets are available on the Campaign Resource Centre (CRC) and some are also below.
Video
Pharmacy First – NHS Help Us Help You (BSL). A 30 second video with captions and BSL
Posters and leaflets
Please share this information, posters and leaflets with your networks and service users.
Easy Read Leaflet of NHS Pharmacy First v2 (PDF, 498 KB)
Large print poster of NHS Pharmacy First v2 (PDF, 123 KB)
Large print 2 page poster of NHS Pharmacy First v2 (PDF, 230 KB)
For more information, visit nhs.uk/thinkpharmacyfirst.
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