Column: Hucknall pharmacist marks two years of thinking Pharmacy First
The NHS Pharmacy First service celebrated its second anniversary at the end of January.
In that time, pharmacists in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have provided more than 100,000 Pharmacy First consultations for a range of illnesses which previously would have needed a GP appointment.
People can use Pharmacy First to access treatment for seven common health conditions, without needing to see a GP.
Those conditions are:
- Earache (anyone aged one to 17)
- Impetigo, a skin condition (anyone aged one and over)
- Infected insect bites (anyone aged one and over)
- Shingles (anyone aged 18 and over)
- Sinusitis (anyone aged 12 and over)
- Sore throat (anyone aged five and over)
- Urinary tract infections – sometimes known as water infections – (women aged 16 to 64)
Patients are seen in a private consultation room at the pharmacy.
Once you’ve been assessed, if it’s appropriate, the pharmacist can provide NHS prescription medicines for these conditions, for free or for a NHS prescription charge, depending upon whether you have a right to free NHS prescriptions.
Treatments can include antibiotics, when appropriate.
Alternatively, if we think you need to be seen by a GP or other healthcare service, we can refer you on to the right place to get the care that you need.
Pharmacy First has been a real game changer.
Here at Harts Pharmacy in Hucknall, Pharmacy First has been very popular with our patients who tell us that it’s much quicker and more convenient than booking a GP appointment.
Due to the demand, we’ve had a pharmacy refit, which includes a new consultation room so that we can provide a better environment for patients to be seen and treated.
I am proud that we are one of over 200 local community pharmacies in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire providing NHS Pharmacy First services.
It is very rewarding for me to know that we are making a difference in the community and allowing our busy GP practices more time to focus on patients with more complex conditions.
More information about Pharmacy First is available at notts.icb.nhs.uk/your-services/community-pharmacy
Think Pharmacy First.