People in Liverpool can now get certain prescription medicines direct from a local pharmacy – without needing to contact their GP practice first.
Launched by NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Community Pharmacy Liverpool, Pharmacy First is a convenient, new NHS service that is now available across the city.
It allows people to walk straight into their nearest pharmacy and access prescription medicines and treatments for a number of minor conditions – without contacting or needing to see a GP first.
What the short video below, or continue reading for more information.
Under Pharmacy First, people can now seek treatment for any of the following common symptoms at a local pharmacy:
- Sore throats
- Urinary infections
- Eye infections (conjunctivitis)
- Oral thrush in babies
- Impetigo
- Mild skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema or insect bite reactions
- Nappy rash for babies
- Other skin problems such as minor cuts, burns, and scalds
- To start using the service, people can simply drop into their nearest pharmacy and ask about treatment for any of these conditions under ‘Pharmacy First’.
All treatment provided under Pharmacy First will be completely free for people who don’t pay for their prescriptions, or will be charged at the normal prescription rate for those who do.
Pharmacy First is a really exciting development for pharmacies and for patients in Liverpool, as it means that many people will be able to get treatment for minor health problems more quickly and conveniently, without needing to wait for a GP appointment first.”
“A pharmacist will simply ask a few quick questions, and as long as a patient is suitable for treatment and hasn’t recently been prescribed treatment for the same thing already, they’ll be able to offer access to it there and then – no prescription required.”
Matt Harvey, Chief Officer for Community Pharmacy Liverpool
Using Pharmacy First can be a really quick and easy alternative to visiting your local GP Practice or NHS Walk-in Centre for treatment and advice for certain common conditions. “Not only does using this service allow patients to get faster treatment for these minor conditions, but it will also help free up GP appointments for patients with more complex health problems that can’t be dealt with in a pharmacy setting too – so it really will benefit lots of patients.”
Dr Janet Bliss, a local GP and Chair of NHS Liverpool CCG
The Pharmacy First service is suitable for most people to use, and parents/carers can also access the service with their child or young person too.
However, anyone who has recurring symptoms or has already recently received treatment for the same condition, may not be eligible. This is because a recurring problem could indicate that further medical investigation is needed by a GP.
Pharmacy First will run alongside the already popular Care at the Chemist scheme, which also allows pharmacists to provide non-prescription drugs for a wide range of minor conditions – either free if you don’t pay for a prescription, or at a lower charge if you do.
Although Pharmacy First and Care the Chemist don’t cover every common condition, those experiencing other minor ailments are still encouraged to seek advice from a pharmacist in the first instance.
Local pharmacists are highly trained health professionals who can provide lots of helpful health advice and treatments – and many of them are open from early until late into the evenings, and over weekends too.
Please note: The Pharmacy First offer is commissioned by NHS Liverpool CCG and is currently only available in Liverpool-based pharmacies.
For more information about Pharmacy First, please ask a member of staff in your local pharmacy.