Almost 20 million patients a year could be treated in England by expanding Pharmacy First to a similar service to Scotland, according to analysis from the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).

A report published by Public Health Scotland in May found that 35% of the Scottish population (1,895,836) used Pharmacy First Scotland in the most recent 12 months reported (October 2023 to September 2024).

If 35% of the English population used Pharmacy First in England, it could reach 19,771,430 patients, analysis from the NPA – based on the 2021 census – suggests.

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The NPA also suggested this meant that nearly five times the number of patients in England could be treated if it moved in line with the Scottish offering – given recent news that pharmacies in England had treated around five million patients in a year.

Currently in Scotland, patients can be seen for a wider range of conditions and ailments, including backache, allergies, eczema, mouth ulcers and thrush, with more walk-in availability and the Pharmacy First service being more established with patients.

According to the figures, the number of people using Pharmacy First Scotland at least once each quarter increased by 60% in the three years from 2021 to 2024 – 62% were female, and 45% of patients lived in the two most deprived quintiles.

The highest rate of Pharmacy First use was in the 0-9 years age group (205 per 1,000 population in the most recent quarter) which has been the case since reporting began.

The NPA has urged the government to use the NHS 10-year plan, expected to be announced in the coming weeks, to deliver a ‘turbo charged’ Pharmacy First service which would allow pharmacists to treat a broader range of conditions in England.

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The association suggested additional conditions such as constipation, diarrhoea and certain bacterial skin infections should be added to the scheme, to bring it into line with the service in Scotland and take further pressure off GP surgeries.

The government should also expand the walk-in element of the service and boost public awareness and greater GP engagement, the NPA said. Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: ‘Good progress has been made already since the introduction of the programme in England last year.

‘However, the experience from Scotland shows there is even more potential to treat more patients for a wide variety of conditions that would otherwise see you visiting other more costly parts of the NHS.’

He added: ‘As this analysis shows, through a number of small practical changes the scheme could reach 20 million patients in England, a game changing number.

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Mr Piccard added that the highly anticipated NHS 10-year plan ‘is a golden opportunity to seize the initiative and expand the role of community pharmacies, achieving the government’s ambitions for a genuine neighbourhood health service’.

‘Pharmacies act as the front door to the NHS and with the right funding and support can provide even more services to their patients,’ he said.