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Pharmacy First launch

31 January 2024

Proposing MP
Andrea Leadsom Con
South Northamptonshire
Type
Written Ministerial Statement
Department
Department of Health and Social Care
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At a Glance

Issue Summary

The statement announces the launch of Pharmacy First, a service enabling patients to receive prescription-only medicines for common health conditions from community pharmacies without visiting a GP.

Action Requested

Pharmacy First will be launched on January 31, 2024, and aims to supply prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals, for seven common conditions. The service will free up around 10 million GP appointments annually once scaled, supported by significant new funding.

Key Facts

  • Pharmacy First was announced in May 2023 as part of the Delivery Plan for Recovering Access to Primary Care.
  • Four in five people in England can reach a community pharmacy within a 20-minute walk.
  • 94 percent of pharmacies have signed up to deliver Pharmacy First from January 31, 2024.
  • The service will release around 10 million appointments in general practice per year once scaled.
  • Pharmacy First enables pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions without a GP visit.
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