PSNC is in discussion with NHS Employers about a national community pharmacy minor ailments service.

The negotiating body says it has long believed that a national minor ailments service would benefit patients, pharmacies and the NHS by giving patients access to advice and treatments for minor conditions without the need for them to visit their GP or another urgent care service.

Such a service would require high quality data capture to ensure clinical records are adequate and that the impact of the service can be assessed, so it is vital that the costs of this are fully recognised and accounted for, says PSNC, which is not able to comment on the content of the ongoing negotiations.

Mandeep Mudhar, Numark’s director of marketing, welcomed the news. "We hope that a proper, fully dimensional service, is launched with sensible remuneration and one that covers a wide range of common ailments. Such a service would genuinely reduce the pressure on GPs and the ability of patients to get a GP appointment whilst allowing GPs to concentrate on patients with more serious issues."

The service must not be compromised either through inadequate funding or by limiting the range of ailments covered as this will imply that there is still not sufficient trust in community pharmacy’s capability, he added.

"This could be the long-awaited next national service that genuinely adds value to pharmacy, reduces pressure on GPs and offers patients more access and care."