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Pharmacy First

The Pharmacy First scheme provides professional health care advice, treatments, and medicines for common illnesses from your local pharmacy, without the need for an appointment.

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PharmOutcomes parent company pledges to help pharmacists locked out of platform

Pharmacists took to social media to express their concern about the apparent lack of communication from EMIS.

18 Mar 2024

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Pharmacy First is good but pharmacies ‘on their knees’, says Lib Dem MP

Richard Foord told parliament that although the launch of Pharmacy First “is good in theory,” pharmacies “are on their knees".

18 Mar 2024

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Ex-home secretary urges government to ‘grow’ Pharmacy First

Priti Patel told parliament this week the service is giving pharmacies “new business activities that importantly keep their footfall going."

15 Mar 2024

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Numark chairman: Why has NHSE failed to sanction DSPs that break regulations?

Harry McQuillan said distance-selling pharmacies have become “a controversial issue” because Pharmacy First allows remote consultations.

04 Mar 2024

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No money left in dispensing

If the biggest dispenser in the UK can't earn enough margin, who can?

29 Feb 2024

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Sigma conference: Inquiry is considering generic substitution to solve shortages

Steve Brine said his committee may recommend allowing pharmacists to provide another version of a medicine that is unavailable on prescription.

26 Feb 2024

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Pharmacy First campaign materials now available

NHSE has launched its ‘Think pharmacy first' campaign. Posters and other assets are available.

22 Feb 2024

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CPE: GPs’ criticism of Pharmacy First is “disappointing”

Community Pharmacy England said “isolated incidents” must be “handled locally without fuelling further media coverage.”

21 Feb 2024

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CCA: Most members provided at least one Pharmacy First consultation in opening week

The CCA said data was collected following "a blackbox exercise with members via PharmOutcomes."

20 Feb 2024

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CCA: Pharmacy First feedback has been ‘positive’ despite GPs’ grumbles

CCA chief Malcolm Harrison was reacting to a story in Pulse last week that “a number of GPs” had aired concerns.

19 Feb 2024

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High levels of patient satisfaction after week one of Pharmacy First

However, 70 per cent of NPA members who responded to the survey said they felt “under additional pressure” to deliver it.

13 Feb 2024

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Pharmacy First locum fee deduction warning ‘not intended as a threat’

Job posting warned of deductions for 'incomplete Pharmacy First referrals'.

09 Feb 2024

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Lord Markham: We had 3,000 Pharmacy First consultations in first three days

The health minister Nick Markham also played down concerns pharmacies providing the service could be overwhelmed.

08 Feb 2024

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Pharmacy2U offers six-condition Pharmacy First service

Pharmacy2U said patients can book an online appointment with a pharmacist.

07 Feb 2024

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Researchers awarded £2.4m to assess Pharmacy First antimicrobial impact

London team get Government grant to look at take-up and impact of landmark service.

06 Feb 2024

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