Better health management for women? Think NHS “Pharmacy First”
Get the advice you need without an appointment
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Pharmacists are doing away with appointments and cutting GP queues – all while empowering women. Here’s how the groundbreaking NHS Pharmacy First service works.
It’s essential that women have access to quick and convenient ways to get health advice and treatment. While many women see their GP as the first point of call, thanks to the new NHS Pharmacy First scheme you can actually be better off popping into your local chemist.
Much like GPs, community pharmacists have extensive knowledge and training to help with the everyday issues that women experience. Your nearest pharmacy can therefore help you with advice, support and treatment for a variety of women’s health symptoms and conditions.
While you might expect a pharmacy to advise women on managing menstrual health, menopause, pregnancy and prenatal care, the Pharmacy First service now allows pharmacists to provide prescription medication for seven common conditions without needing to see a GP.
Launched in January 2024, this covers treatment for women’s health conditions such as uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women aged sixteen to 64. UTIs are one of the most common health concerns for women, and quicker access to treatment can prevent any complications and help you get better quicker.
For the first time, women can also receive prescriptions for oral contraceptive pills directly from pharmacies, without needing to visit a GP or sexual health clinic.
The Pharmacy First service also enables pharmacists to prescribe medications for other common conditions that can impact families and small children, such as sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, earache, sore throats and infected insect bites.
Get the care you need when you need it
Deborah from Staffordshire says, “When I experienced a painful UTI that sprung up out of nowhere and was not something I had experienced before, I was unsure if the pharmacy could help. But the pharmacist pinpointed the issue straight away and gave me exactly what I needed to treat it quickly. The relief of getting fast, effective treatment, especially during a busy week, was invaluable. I had no idea a pharmacist could prescribe medication for things like UTIs, but the fact that they can is fantastic.”
Deborah from Staffordshire started experiencing some pain and discomfort in her groin, which she believed to be a water infection. After a weekend away, she noticed her condition had progressively worsened despite buying over-the-counter medication. She decided to speak to her GP practice, who logged a triage form and she was promptly signposted to the pharmacy.
That same day, the pharmacy reached out to her. During a consultation in a private room, the pharmacist was able to give Deborah antibiotics for a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Within 48 hours, she felt significantly better, with her symptoms completely gone.
Inspired by this experience, Deborah now encourages her friends and family to view the pharmacy as a first point of contact for minor health conditions. She highlights the convenience of long opening hours, making it possible to visit in the evening or over the weekend.
By thinking ‘Pharmacy First’ women can have faster access to healthcare, address minor illnesses before they worsen, manage contraception and create more capacity in GP surgeries.
Pharmacy First: Your first port of call
Olutayo Arikawe, from Swinford Pharmacy, West Midlands, urges women not to wait for minor health concerns to get worse – think pharmacy first and get seen by your local pharmacy team.
“It’s vital that women know they can turn to their local pharmacist to manage health needs for themselves and their families. Community pharmacists have the right expertise and training to advise and support for a variety of needs, from menstrual pain, UTIs and even contraception,” Arikawe adds.
“Thanks to expanded pharmacy services from NHS England, these issues can be easily treated by your local pharmacy and community pharmacists can even provide prescription medications for seven conditions, without needing to see your GP.”
Olutayo Arikawe (left) at Swinford Pharmacy.
The seven conditions that community pharmacists can now provide prescription medication for, without needing a GP appointment, are:
For more information, and to find your local pharmacy visit: nhs.uk/thinkpharmacyfirst