Pharmacy First
Pharmacy First
NHS Pharmacy First, a new advanced service provided by community pharmacies which launched on 31 January 2024.
Pharmacy First aims to take the pressure off GP surgeries and other urgent care providers. It will encourage more people to visit their pharmacy with minor medical conditions and illnesses, rather than automatically make an appointment with their GP or attend an urgent care provider.
Pharmacy First includes seven clinical pathways and has replaced the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS).
There are no changes to the former Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) elements of the service as it is transferred as a service within Pharmacy First. The existing referral routes for CPCS will continue apply to the new clinical pathways element of Pharmacy First, but patients will also be able to self-refer to a pharmacy for the clinical pathways (subject to the patient passing a clinically established gateway point in the relevant clinical pathway).
The Service will consist of three elements: |
Clinical pathway consultations | Urgent supply of repeat medicines and appliances | Referrals for minor illness consultations |
New element | Previously part of CPCS | Previously part of CPCS |
There are no changes to the former Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) elements of the service as it is transferred as a service within Pharmacy First. The existing referral routes for CPCS will continue apply to the new clinical pathways element of Pharmacy First, but patients will also be able to self-refer to a pharmacy for the clinical pathways (subject to the patient passing a clinically established gateway point in the relevant clinical pathway).
Clinical pathway | Age range | |
Acute Otitis Media* | 1 to 17 years | |
Impetigo | 1 year and over | |
Infected insect bites | 1 year and over | |
Shingles | 18 years and over | |
Sinusitis | 12 years and over | |
Sore throat | 5 years and over | |
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections | Women 16-64 years |
*Distance Selling Pharmacies will not complete consultations for Acute Otitis Media.
You can read the list of conditions and illnesses in the seven different clinical areas here that will enable community pharmacies to assess and treat patients.
The pharmacies delivering Pharmacy First includes Distance Selling Pharmacies (DSPs). 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.
As part of Pharmacy First, community pharmacies will hold consultations with patients to offer advice and suggest treatments for their conditions if they fall into the seven categories on the attached list. Consultations for these seven clinical pathways can be provided to patients presenting to the pharmacy as well as those referred by NHS 111, general practices and others.
Community Pharmacies are working hard to be able to deliver all aspects of the service however, February 2024 will be a transition month.
All GP practices are encouraged to work within their PCNs and with their Community Pharmacy PCN Integration Leads to be aware of which pharmacies are ready to deliver the service.
Pharmacy First Training Webinars
Hertfordshire and west Essex ICB consists of GP Practices that use both EMIS and SystmOne. We have tailored two webinars to cover both systems.
By fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and problem-solving, this webinar series aims to empower both general practice and community pharmacy teams to successfully implement and optimise the Pharmacy First Service.
The first webinar was held on the 17th September and was around the EMIS system and the second on the 24th September that was Ardens SystmOne focussed. If you were unable to join us, and would like to use a session as a refresher or for training during your Protected Time to Learn Sessions (PTTL), please a scroll down to access the videos.
Pharmacy First EMIS training Webinar
Audience: All clinical and non clinical staff working in GP Practices that use the EMIS system and Community Pharmacies.
Suggested use: Training session which can be used for Protected Time to Learn sessions (PTTL), training new starters or a refresher.
Please take a moment to complete the feedback form now you have watched the session - it's no more than 1 minute. Thank you
Pharmacy First - Ardens SystmOne training Webinar
Audience: All clinical and non clinical staff working in GP Practices that use Ardens SystmOne and Community Pharmacies.
Suggested use: Training session which can be used for Protected Time to Learn sessions (PTTL), training new starters or a refresher.
Please take a moment to complete the feedback form now you have watched the session - it's no more than 1 minute. Thank you
Pharmacy First Tool Kit
This toolkit is aimed at those who are involved with the implementation of the Pharmacy First service within the Hertfordshire and west Essex ICB. It is expected to be especially useful for general practice and community pharmacy teams. The contents of the toolkit are not intended to be used as patient/public facing information.
The Pharmacy First Toolkit is a resource designed to support the implementation of the Pharmacy First service within Hertfordshire and West Essex integrated care system (HWE ICS)
Pharmacy First Myth-Busting series!
This is the first of a series of articles to tackle some of the misconceptions around Pharmacy First. The articles will cover a variety of aspects of Pharmacy First and aims to myth bust, to increase understanding of the service.
GP Connect Update Record: FAQs
NHSE Booking and Referral Standard FAQs
Booking and Referral System - Pharmacy First BaRS Information Pack
NHS England is significantly improving the digital infrastructure between general practice and community pharmacy to support the implementation of Pharmacy First and the expansion of the Blood Pressure Check Service and Pharmacy Contraception service.
Information pack contents
Pharmacy First: transforming pathways
Streamlining referrals from general practice to community pharmacy
Conditions general practice can refer to community pharmacy
Information sent in Referral Standard to community pharmacy
Pharmacy First referrals
Benefits for general practice
Guidance for general practice
Managing referrals in community pharmacy
Benefits for community pharmacy
Guidance for community pharmacy
Directory of Services
Supplier switching processes
Process for managing live service issues
GP materials on Pharmacy First
Community Pharmacy England have created this short animated video to help local GP practices, LMCs, PCNs and ICSs improve their understanding and engagement with the GP referral pathway into the Pharmacy First service.
Download this folder that contains the following resources:
Clip 1: Introducing the service
Clip 2: How the service works
Clip 3: The value of the service
Screenshots
Social media tiles
Suggested tweets/posts
Visit the new Pharmacy First: Information for GPs webpage
Pharmacy First - National Campaign
NHS England has this week launched the second phase of the advertising campaign promoting Pharmacy First, which highlights how Community Pharmacists can now provide treatment and some prescription medicine for seven conditions, if appropriate, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.
The campaign will run for six weeks and the adverts are appearing on Video on Demand, on radio, in social media and at poster sites across England. It is supported by partnership activity, PR, and multicultural outreach. Assets including accessible formats are available to download and use by primary care teams on the Campaign Resource Centre.
The community pharmacies that have opted in to provide Pharmacy First across Hertfordshire and West Essex is available here
Downloadable Resources - available from the Community Pharmacy England website:
Download here: Pharmacy First promotional resources
Pharmacy First Slide Deck
Click here to access secure area of website. You will be required to register / login with a active NHS.net email address.
FAQs
CPE National Pharmacy Services - Pharmacy First FAQs
Useful Links
NHS England Pharmacy First Advanced Service including clinical pathways and service specification
Community Pharmacy England - Pharmacy First
Community Pharmacy Hertfordshire - Pharmacy First
Pharmacy First Service - (Previously CPCS): Ardens
EMIS Health - Pharmacy First Streamline Clinical Referrals with PharmOutcomes
Lincs LMC - Pharmrefer for Systmone and EMIS
Pharmacy First – TPP (tpp-uk.com)
Videos
PharmRefer
PharmOutcomes
EMIS
Ardens SystmOne
