Local pharmacies free up GP appointments with new treatment scheme

RESIDENTS with seven common illnesses can now seek treatment at local pharmacies rather than making a GP appointment as part of the government’s new Pharmacy First Scheme.

The Pharmacy First scheme was launched by the government and NHS England on 31st January to give patients quick and accessible care and ease pressure on GP services.

Gompels on Bank Street, Lloyds Pharmacy at Giffords Surgery and the Boots Pharmacy on the High Street are all registered as taking part.

The seven conditions that patients can get help for are: sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo (a bacterial skin infection), shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.

Owner of the award-winning Gompels pharmacy, Paddy Gompels said, “The best way for patients to access this service is via a referral from a GP practice (which is now available via a great new E-Consult system). We at Gompels can also take walk-ins too, but our pharmacists are very busy with consultations, so it’s advisable to call up first to avoid waiting. It’s worth noting that treatment with prescription-only medicines for these seven conditions do have age restrictions.”

Nationally, the scheme aims to free up 10 million GP appointments a year by next winter for more complex diagnosis. Further information can be found at https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/advice-and-information/2024-02-12/what-can-pharmacy-first-scheme-do-me

For pharmacies offering the scheme, there is funding available, which Paddy says is welcome, particularly at a time when community pharmacies are facing closures, cuts and price volatility when buying drugs.

He explained that around 90% of a pharmacy’s income comes from reimbursement for dispensing medication and this funding has been cut by more than 30%. The additional services pharmacies now provide are also insufficiently funded, with some not funded at all.

To lobby for fair funding, the petition Save Our Pharmacies was set up last year by national bodies for pharmacies to be reimbursed for drug costs and the additional services they now provide to alleviate pressure on the NHS.

It has been nearly a year since Gompels signed the petition and Paddy said there has not yet been a direct impact from it.

“The same issues surrounding drug reimbursement, supply issues and stagnant funding for five years (on the core contract) still remain and make things extremely difficult for community pharmacies,” says Paddy.

“There have been no direct outcomes of the petition; we are waiting for the new contract to be announced, but have heard nothing. This leaves a lot of uncertainty for the years ahead.”

Age restrictions are: • Sinusitis (for patients aged 12 years and over only); • Sore throat (aged 5+); • Earache (aged 1 year-17); • Infected insect bite (aged 1 year+); • Impetigo (aged 18 years+); • Shingles (aged 18 years+); • Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (women aged 16 to 64)