Introduction

Consultation-led services occupy an increasingly central position in community pharmacy’s offer to the public. The period since the Covid-19 outbreak has seen an explosion in these schemes, with Pharmacy First taking off in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. And now, as of January 31, pharmacies in England can deliver a wider range of NHS-funded consultations than ever before.

The introduction of Pharmacy First in England opens up new care pathways to ensure patients receive prompt and easily accessible care for seven common conditions, and, if successful, this may pave the way for future add-ons to the service.

Undoubtedly, the success of the scheme will depend, to a large extent, on pharmacists and their teams leveraging their communication skills to help patients navigate the new pathways and ensure their queries result in a clinically appropriate decision. Considerations such as establishing the right consultation environment, developing rapport with patients and understanding their knowledge and needs will all come into play.