Many community pharmacies across Hertfordshire and west Essex are now seeing patients for seven common conditions as part of NHS Pharmacy First.
The new service means trained pharmacists can assess and treat patients without the need for them to see their GP, for:
- Sinusitis (12 years and over)
- Sore throat (5 years and over)
- Acute otitis media (1 to 17 years)
- Infected insect bite (1 year and over)
- Impetigo (1 year and over)
- Shingles (18 years and over)
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (16 to 64 years)
Some patients in Hertfordshire and west Essex are already benefiting from some elements of Pharmacy First, including treatment of uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in women aged 16 to 64 years.
Patients can walk into their pharmacy or can be referred by GPs, NHS 111 and other can refer patients who may have these conditions and illnesses to community pharmacies for minor illnesses.
Distance Selling Pharmacies (DSPs) can also provide Pharmacy First services. These pharmacies will only be able to provide the Pharmacy First service via video consultation and will not be able to treat patients with acute otitis media.
You can find out more about Pharmacy First on the NHS website.