Millions receive help from NHS high street pharmacies
More than 5 million patients have received help from high street pharmacies for minor illnesses, as the NHS brings care closer to people’s homes.
Around 2.4 million people received help without booking an appointment at their local pharmacy for seven common conditions including sore throat, earache or shingles. 35,930 Frimley residents have benefited from this service.
Across the country, pharmacies delivered the most consultations for acute sore throats (835,679) followed by uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) (665,409).
High street pharmacists throughout the Frimley Health and Care area have delivered a further 33,816 consultations for minor illness referrals and 27,001 consultations for urgent medicine supplies.
The move means people do not have to contact their GP to receive help, freeing up appointments for those who need them most.
It is part of a series of initiatives to offer people more choice in care close to home, ahead of the 10 Year Health Plan.
Pharmacies will also begin offering women the ‘morning-after pill’ free of charge at pharmacies for the first time ever later this year.
Yousaf Ahmad, Chief Pharmacist for Frimley Health and Care Integrated Care System said: “Community pharmacies have long been established as a trusted source of health care and medicines support.
Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and the wider Pharmacy team in England are skilled professionals who operate at the heart of the NHS and their communities. In the Frimley System, over 96,700 residents have received advice, guidance and, when required, medication supply through the Pharmacy First Service since its introduction in January 2024.
I would like to thank all staff working within pharmacies for their hard work in providing high quality clinical advice and care to residents within the Frimley Health and Care System."
Case study - Deborah, Stone Pharmacy, Staffordshire.
When Deborah, a housing manager from Stone, Staffordshire started experiencing pain and discomfort, which she believed to be a water infection, she decided to speak to her GP practice. She logged a triage form and was promptly referred to her local pharmacy.
That same day, the pharmacy reached out to her, offering a consultation. After the consultation, the pharmacist was able to supply antibiotics to treat her urinary tract infection (UTI), and within 48 hours, Deborah felt significantly better, with her symptoms completely gone by the time the course of antibiotics was completed.
Deborah said: “Initially, I was unsure if the pharmacy could help when I experienced a painful UTI that sprung up out of nowhere. It was not something I had experienced before, but the pharmacist pinpointed the issue straight away and gave me exactly what I needed to treat it quickly. The relief of getting fast, effective treatment, especially during a busy week, was invaluable. I had no idea a pharmacist could supply prescription medication for things like UTIs without me needing to see a GP first, but the fact that they can is fantastic.”
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