Pharmacists and patients in the North East and Yorkshire have welcomed the benefits of Pharmacy First, which includes enabling people to receive treatment from high street pharmacies for seven common conditions, minor illnesses, and urgent medicine supply, without needing to see a GP.

Since January last year, patients in England have been able to get treatment and medicines from their local pharmacy for sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infection.

The initiative ties in with the Government’s ambition to bring more care closer to people’s homes ahead of the 10 Year Health Plan for England, with the NHS prioritising primary care access.

In the North East and Yorkshire there were approximately 40,000 Pharmacy First patient consultations for the seven common conditions in February this year, NHS figures show. The figures also show that since Pharmacy First launched, there have been more than 405,000 patient consultations for the seven common conditions in this region.

When minor illnesses (16,000) and urgent medicines supply (13,000) elements are included, the total activity figure in February for Pharmacy First consultations in the North East and Yorkshire was almost 70,000.

The NHS figures also show acute sore throat was the most common symptom patients presented with (approximately 15,000 consultations), followed by urinary tract infection (9,500 consultations). By contrast, through Pharmacy First approximately 960 people sought advice and medication for shingles.

Pharmacists and GP practice teams are seeing the benefits of the service in terms of satisfied patients.

Clark Edison, Service Manager at The Roxton Practice in Immingham, North East Lincolnshire, said: “Patients are seeing the benefit of the service with quicker treatment options and same-day, face-to-face consultations to the referred pharmacy. This clearly eases the workload on a practice and allows the patient to get the best possible care at fast pace.”

Pharmacist Abi Fraser, from Clemitsons Pharmacy at Crook in County Durham, said: “To me Pharmacy First is a huge positive step for patient satisfaction – they have a convenient, accessible service at their local community pharmacy and can often get reassurance or same-day treatment if that’s what’s necessary.”

Lesley, a patient, explained the benefits of the service, which include speeding up the process of collecting prescriptions for conditions such as shingles. “The benefits for me as a pharmacy patient was the swiftness of being seen,” she said. “Abi at Clemitsons Pharmacy had the knowledge and expertise – the same as if I’d attended the GP surgery.

“I was able to get the prescription straight away, no hanging around waiting for prescriptions to be transferred from one place to another. It was quick and easy, and it was perfect for me.”

Keith Kendall, Regional Senior Pharmacy Integration Lead for NHS North East and Yorkshire, said registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are skilled professionals, working at the heart of the NHS and communities, and are highly trusted by the public.

“Pharmacy First is helping people get quick and convenient access to vital services first time without the need to see a GP, with community pharmacy and general practice teams working together to provide care for local communities,” Keith said.

Pharmacy is a critical element in the shifts in NHS care from hospitals to the community, treatment to prevention, and analogue to digital, he added.

In March, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed it had agreed funding with Community Pharmacy England worth an extra £617 million over two years following a six-week consultation with the organisation. Reforms to be introduced include making the ‘morning-after pill’ available free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS for the first time ever.