Nearly half of UK adults 'unaware' of Pharmacy First, survey suggests

Almost half (46%) of UK adults were unaware of Pharmacy First around three months into the service being available in England, a survey has shown.

However nearly three-quarters (73%) thought that pharmacists should be able to update medical records with any advice or treatment supplied – up from 65% last year.

The survey was conducted online in late April 2024 on behalf of PAGB, which represents the interests of over-the-counter manufacturers, and received 4,000 responses.

People less likely to seek pharmacist advice

The survey showed a year-on-year decline in the number of people who would visit a pharmacist as a first port of call for a self-treatable condition, despite the introduction of Pharmacy First earlier this year.

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In 2024, just 52% said a pharmacist would be their first port of call, down from 60% last year and from 69% in 2022.

Pharmacist and advisor to PAGB Mark Burdon said the results were ‘concerning’, adding: ‘It feels like we’ve lost some of the progress that was made during the Covid-19 pandemic to drive confidence in the healthcare services and self-care support available outside of GP surgeries and hospitals.’

The report suggested that 16% of adults surveyed would be more likely to visit their pharmacist in the first instance if their pharmacist was able to fully access and update their medical records.

Meanwhile, 35% said they would like to be able to speak to their pharmacist via phone or video call, while 36% said they would be more likely to consult with a pharmacist if there was increased privacy in the pharmacy.

Older people more likely to visit pharmacist

The survey also found that older people were more likely to seek advice from a pharmacist than those aged under 25.

Nearly half (44%) of those aged over 65 would use self-care or visit a pharmacist before visiting a GP or A&E, compared to just 32% of those aged 18-24.

Call to boost awareness of Pharmacy First

The results suggested that many adults were unaware of what pharmacists could offer, including low awareness of Pharmacy First.

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Some 46% of those surveyed said they were unaware of the Pharmacy First scheme and this wider access to prescription medicines for common conditions.

While 79% of UK adults agreed that A&E and GP appointments should only be used when absolutely essential, 23% of 25-34 year-olds said they would choose a GP appointment as their first port of call for a self-treatable condition.

‘This would suggest there is a disconnect between people being willing to self-care to reduce pressures on the NHS, and having the awareness of the tools, resources and alternative primary care services in place to support this,’ the report from PAGB suggested.

The PAGB report suggested that there was still 'a way to go' to increase education and awareness of Pharmacy First.

It follows a call from the Company Chemists' Association (CCA) for the government to do more to boost public awareness of Pharmacy First.

And it comes as latest data showed more than 423,000 Pharmacy First consultations were delivered in the first three months of the service.

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High trust in pharmacists

Over three-quarters (76%) of UK adults surveyed by PAGB this year said they see their pharmacist as a trusted information health source.

In comparison, 40% said they feel overwhelmed by the amount of information available digitally, and the same number (40%) said they don’t know what online health information to trust.