World Pharmacists Day

World Pharmacists Day is organised by the International Pharmaceutical Federation – a World Health Organisation partner. The theme for this year’s event is “Pharmacists: Meeting global health needs” which raises awareness of the pivotal role that pharmacists play in our health care systems. 

Traditionally, pharmacists are responsible for the dispensing of medicines prescribed by doctors, recommending medicines that are available over the counter without prescription, and providing authoritative information to consumers on the safety and efficacy of medicines.

However, with time, the role of pharmacists has expanded to promoting disease prevention by administering vaccines and conducting health screening, supporting public health campaigns, participating in the research and development of new medicines, and being at the forefront of addressing regional and global health crises – as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pharmacy First

The government and NHS England launched the Pharmacy First scheme on 31 January 2024, which you can read more about here. Under this initiative, pharmacists across England are providing patients with medical advice or prescribing medications for seven common health ailments without patients needing to visit their GP.

The seven common conditions are:

•    Sinusitis (patients aged 12+ only)

•    Sore throat (aged 5+)

•    Earache (aged 1-17)

•    Infected insect bite (aged 1+)

•    Impetigo (aged 18+)

•    Shingles (aged 18+)

•    Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (women aged 16-64)

You can get treatment for these seven conditions by visiting or phoning your local pharmacy. At the pharmacy, you can request a free private consultation in a separate room or book a virtual appointment. 

In addition to prescribing medications according to your needs, the pharmacist may also refer you to a GP practice if they don’t have appointments available or believe you may need additional medical attention. You will have to pay the regular prescription charges for any medications, unless you qualify for free prescriptions.

The aim of Pharmacy First is to reduce NHS waiting times by offering quick, convenient and accessible care to those who need it and creating more time and space for patients with more complex health conditions who need to see their GP.

However, you can still choose to visit your GP if you prefer, or if you feel that you need more clinical support than what your local pharmacy can offer you. Pharmacy First just offers another option to get treatment for the conditions listed above.