Pharmacy First Knowledge Bank
What is NHS Pharmacy First?
It is an extended and rebranded version of the old CPCS service (Community Pharmacy Consultation Service) which has been around since early 2019.
The patient experience in Pharmacy First remains the same, namely a ‘same-day’ consultation with their nominated community pharmacist.
Pharmacy First is designed to support practices with alternative referral options for patients who have less serious conditions. It means these patients can be seen sooner, whilst GPs can spend extra time with patients who are more ill.
The patient experience in Pharmacy First remains the same, namely a ‘same-day’ consultation with their nominated community pharmacist.
Pharmacy First is designed to support practices with alternative referral options for patients who have less serious conditions. It means these patients can be seen sooner, whilst GPs can spend extra time with patients who are more ill.
Is the NHS Pharmacy First service a pilot?
No, the service was commissioned by NHS England on 31st January 2024 on an ongoing basis. It will be an integral part of the primary care service model for the foreseeable future.
How has the service been extended?
It has been extended in terms of the treatment options that pharmacists can choose from. It is helpful to notice that the treatments for all of the original CPCS Minor Ailment conditions were limited to over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. This restricted the extent of the treatment care pathways that pharmacists could follow.
Whereas now, within the expanded NHS Pharmacy First, seven of those care pathways have been extended thanks to the Patient Group Directions (PGDs) which allow pharmacists to go further and treat patients under strict protocols with Prescription Only Medicines.
Whereas now, within the expanded NHS Pharmacy First, seven of those care pathways have been extended thanks to the Patient Group Directions (PGDs) which allow pharmacists to go further and treat patients under strict protocols with Prescription Only Medicines.
What is a Patient Group Direction (PGD)?
A PGD is a statutory mechanism which allows clinical professionals who are not doctors to lawfully prescribe or supply prescription only medicines (POMs) in specific circumstances.
There are 23 PGDs available to pharmacists in the Pharmacy First service which give pharmacist more clinical pathway treatment options.
There are 23 PGDs available to pharmacists in the Pharmacy First service which give pharmacist more clinical pathway treatment options.
What conditions can receptionists refer into Pharmacy First?
The colour-coded Referral Guidance Tool provides helpful decision support for receptionists setting out what can be referred, and what ought not to be referred into the Pharmacy First service. There are around seventy commonly mentioned symptoms listed in the ‘green’ minor ailments section of the Guidance Tool all of which can be referred to pharmacists in the NHS Pharmacy First Service.
