Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon has welcomed the launch of the Conservative Government’s Pharmacy First approach, helping patients across North Devon to receive care more quickly through better use of our community pharmacies.
This new scheme will enable pharmacists to utilise more of their medical skills and training. This will mean that patients across North Devon can receive treatment for seven common health conditions from their local pharmacy without the need to visit a GP or have a prescription.
Pharmacists will now be able to help with conditions include sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. Following the assessment, the pharmacist can then supply the prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals, to treat the problem.
The new Pharmacy First approach will not only speed up access to essential care for patients, but also help to reduce pressure on local GP services by directing people to more appropriate places to be treated. Backed by up to £645 million, 95 per cent of pharmacies across England have opted in so far, meaning that patients will be able to receive care more quickly without the need to wait for a GP appointment.
The Pharmacy First approach builds on the other measures outlined in the Primary Care Recovery Plan last spring, including tackling the 8am rush by giving GPs new digital tools and providing more GP staff and more appointments.
In combination, the Primary Care Recovery Plan aims to free up 10 million GP appointments a year by next winter and give the public more choice in where and how they access care.
Selaine Saxby MP for North Devon, said:
“I very much welcome this step by the Government to expand access to treatment to common conditions. Pharmacists will now be able to administer treatment easily and effectively to patients, which will cut up to 10 million GP appointments across the country. This is really great news for the community in North Devon, who will be able to enjoy quick access to treat common illnesses.
“Pharmacies are pillars of the community and I will do all I can to ensure that residents in North Devon continue to have access to these important services.”
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Victoria Atkins said:
“I’m determined to deliver faster, simpler, fairer access to care for patients, and the expansion of Pharmacy First will mean patients can get treatment for common conditions without needing to see their GP first.
“This is good news for patients and good news for the NHS. It will free up millions of GP appointments per year and mean that patients can get quick and effective treatment from their local pharmacy.
“As four in five people live within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy, for many seeing their local pharmacist will be the easiest option – so this initiative will have real benefits for patients and help cut NHS waiting lists.”
