‘Expand’ Pharmacy First say leaders as scheme hits two-year mark

Ministers should ‘immediately expand’ Pharmacy First as the service reaches its two-year anniversary, the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) has said.

Now is the moment for ministers to invest in community pharmacy and expand the range of common conditions that can be treated on the high street through Pharmacy First, it added.

Pharmacy First has quickly become an established service for patients needing clinical care close to home with. Over 4.5 million consultation have taken place since the service launched on launched on 31 January 2024, according to the latest NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) data.

The IPA has urged the government to build on the success of Pharmacy First and recognise the potential of community pharmacy to deliver accessible frontline care – contributing to the NHS 10-year plan and the government’s Neighbourhood Health Service approach.

Dr Layla Hannbeck, chief executive of the IPA, said: ‘Pharmacy First has shown just how much community pharmacies can deliver for patients, with millions already benefiting from faster, more convenient access to care.

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‘Pharmacy First is a double win: patients get quicker access to the care they need, and pressure is taken off hard-pressed GP surgeries.

‘If the Government is serious about making it easier for patients to get a GP appointment, it needs to invest in community pharmacies, the real front door of the NHS. Now is the moment for ministers to immediately expand the range of common conditions that can be treated on the high street through Pharmacy First. In particular, the growing issue of everyday skin conditions should be added to the scheme straight away.’

The IPA also wants to see the number of GP referrals to the service reduce over time. Pharmacy First will only reach its full potential if patients are empowered to access the service directly when they need it, without needing to contact their GP first.

Alastair Buxton, director of NHS services at Community Pharmacy England, said that Pharmacy First had been an ‘unprecedented success’ and praised pharmacies for implementing the scheme in such a short space of time.

However, the service has had its fair share of teething issues with pharmacy owners facing challenges with clinical pathways, GP referrals and public awareness, he added.

Mr Buxton said: ‘Looking ahead, Pharmacy First is an important stepping stone towards a more clinical future, offering an excellent way for pharmacy teams to use their skills to support patients while building a solid foundation from which other services can grow.

‘Labour’s manifesto referenced their desire to create a pharmacist prescribing service, which would be a natural extension to the Pharmacy First service. The Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England also describes how community pharmacies will play a bigger role in healthcare. We are keen to discuss how to make this happen through further expansion of the Pharmacy First service.’

Public awareness is necessary to achieve this goal and Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has reminded pharmacies that the second 2025/26 national health campaign – to promote Pharmacy First – starts today (2 February 2026).

All pharmacies will need to participate in the campaign, using relevant materials to promote the Pharmacy First service to the public before the campaign ends on 22 February 2026.

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This could include any of the following ways to promote Pharmacy First:

• By displaying posters, leaflets or other promotional materials relating to the Pharmacy First service at the pharmacy;
• Via information on the pharmacy’s website;
• Via information posted on the pharmacy’s social media channels;
• By including information on the service in emails or messages sent to patients.

Digital resources are available on the DHSC Campaign Resource Centre website.

Alastair Buxton, director of NHS services at CPE, said that Pharmacy First had been an ‘unprecedented success’ and praised pharmacies for implementing the scheme in such a short space of time.

However, the service has had its fair share of teething issues with pharmacy owners facing challenges with clinical pathways, GP referrals and public awareness, he added.

Mr Buxton said: ‘Looking ahead, Pharmacy First is an important stepping stone towards a more clinical future, offering an excellent way for pharmacy teams to use their skills to support patients while building a solid foundation from which other services can grow.'

The Company Chemists' Association (CCA) said it wants to see Pharmacy First become an expanded 'walk-in' service.

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Head of policy at the CCA, Nick Thayer, said: 'Expanding the eligibility criteria for the existing conditions, adding new ones and integrating independent prescribing would increase the number of patients treated and reduce onward referrals.

'With expansion, community pharmacy could become the routine first port of call for primary care, enabling GPs to focus on complex cases and supporting the ‘leftwards shift’ envisioned in the government’s 10‑year NHS plan.'

Approximately 90% of patients who are eligible for Pharmacy First complete their full episode of care within a pharmacy and CCA modelling has shown that a fully expanded service could free up to 40 million GP appointments annually.