About Pharmacy First Launch 31 January 2024

9^th May 2023: NHSE and DHSC published the Delivery Plan for recovering access to Primary Care

Community Pharmacies to supply NHS medicine for:

• Seven conditions: UTI Shingles Impetigo Infected insect bites Sinusitis Sore throat Otitis media
• Provision of contraception service
• BP check service

Also providing improved digital infrastructure between General Practice and Community Pharmacy

Expansion of contraception service

Both ongoing supply and initiation of contraceptive service

NHS website postcode search tool to enable patients to find local pharmacies who deliver the service

Expansion of BP check service

Encouraging contractors who have signed up to see more patients and completion of more Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)

Seven Conditions

• Uncomplicated UTI – women 16-64 years
• Shingles – 18 years and over
• Impetigo – 1 year and over
• Infected Insect Bites – 1 year and over
• Sinusitis – 12 years and over
• Sore Throat – 5 years and over
• Acute Otitis Media – 1 to 17 years

Referrals can come from general practice and self-referrals

Existing referral routes for the CPCS will apply to the new clinical pathway’s elements, but patients will also be able to self-refer to a pharmacy for the clinical pathways (subject to the patient passing a clinically established gateway point in the relevant clinical pathway)

Even if the patient presents at practice, the practice should still digitally refer as opposed to signposting – reasons why:

• Patients will receive a confidential consultation
• Once referred, if patient does not contact pharmacy, pharmacy’s responsibility to follow up with patient
• Data can be used by practice for Primary Care Access Recovery Plan PCARP
• Clinical responsibility for patient is officially transferred to pharmacy
• Clear audit trail

Latest data from 3^rd Jan – 85% pharmacies in Coventry and Warwickshire are currently signed up with an expectation that this will be higher come launch

Long term contraception is free under this service – emergency contraception would still have to be paid for however there are pharmacies that offer a local free emergency contraception

Pharmacies that offer Blood Pressure service including ABPMs

Find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Pharmacies that supply the contraceptive service (not emergency contraception)

Please note however the service finder does not differentiate between initiation and ongoing supply so please clarify this with your local pharmacies before referring. From March 2024, all pharmacies that are signed up will have to do both

Find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

List of providers of free EMERGENCY contraception i.e., Morning after pill

Health Services | Integrated Sexual Health Service (ishs.org.uk)

Pharmacy First Pathways