Government expands pharmacy-first scheme to cover five more conditions
The government has expanded the NHS England pharmacy first scheme, adding five conditions so pharmacists can now assess and treat 12 common ailments without a GP appointment. New additions from this autumn include acne, low-frequency episodic migraine, scabies, allergic rhinitis in children and acute otitis externa, joining seven existing conditions. Consultations are free, pharmacies can prescribe prescription-only medicines including antibiotics and antivirals when clinically appropriate, and the NHS expects two to three million consultations for the new list once fully rolled out, with participating pharmacies sending summary notes to patients' GPs.
Pharmacies can now treat 12 common conditions without GP referral
Context
The scheme originally let pharmacists treat seven common conditions. The government added five more conditions and will roll them out in phases from this autumn.
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