Pharmacy First Treats 5M; Sore Throats Most Common

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Over 5 million patients have bypassed their GP for treatment at local pharmacies since January 2024.

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No appointment needed! Walk into your local pharmacy for treatment of seven common conditions including sore throats and UTIs.

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Sore throats top the list with 835,679 consultations, followed by UTIs with 665,409 cases.

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"I had no idea a pharmacist could give prescription medication without me seeing a GP first," says Deborah, who got UTI treatment in hours.

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What can your pharmacist treat? Earache in children, sore throat, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, and UTIs in women.

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Did you know pharmacists could free up to 9 million GP appointments yearly? This number could rise to 40 million if more conditions are added.

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Despite success, only 8% of England's population has used Pharmacy First, compared to 33% for Scotland's similar service.

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Money troubles? Many pharmacies struggle to meet consultation thresholds required for full payment while operating at a loss.

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The government has promised £617 million in additional funding over two years for community pharmacies.

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"A true Neighbourhood Health Service," says Minister Stephen Kinnock about the scheme bringing care closer to home.

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What's next? Plans include covering more conditions like back pain, eye infections, and migraines, plus free 'morning-after pill' access.

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78,000 pharmacists and technicians are transforming community healthcare – is your local pharmacy your first stop for minor health issues?

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[{"selector":"#anim-7d2b840a-35c1-4648-83e7-4f018c8f1283","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b57f9a90-25fa-495f-a7ef-597a6e88d00d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f22851ff-ff73-4575-8bb6-0690baba1d1d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-27ed9442-1c3b-4846-a745-a628ce5bc46e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99778f8c-0a0e-4332-8690-ee028c653cbb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] UK Launches First Gonorrhoea Vaccine After 85K Cases Learn more