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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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Pharmacy First ‘could increase AMR risk without rapid diagnostics’

Pharmacists need access to tests to safely prescribe, scientists tell Rishi Sunak

18 May 2023

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Insight: I feel like toast but better times ahead?

With the Government having imposed a new set of utterly reckless regulatory requirements on the sector, morale has never been lower. The announcement of new investment in community pharmacy will do well to redress this sorry state of affairs...

15 May 2023

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Editor's comment: A platform for growth?

The devil will be in the detail but the Government’s £645m investment in pharmacy in England represents a major shift in thinking.

12 May 2023

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Viewpoint: At last — some genuinely good news for pharmacy

The announcement of substantial new funding for pharmacy services is good news, so let’s thank the people who helped make it happen, says NPA chief executive Mark Lyonette.

11 May 2023

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Government promises £645 million for pharmacies – but details lacking

It is not yet known how the money will be split between the Pharmacy First, contraception and hypertension case-finding services.

09 May 2023

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Contraception rollout – ‘no LPC can tell contractors what to do’

“We are not cartels therefore must leave it for them to decide,” said Community Pharmacy Liverpool chief officer Matt Harvey.

04 May 2023

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Cornwall minor ailments service reaches Westminster

Push for regional pharmacy-first type service to be rolled out nationally.

24 Mar 2023

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Insight: I am optimistic... yet burnt out

It feels like the winds may – just may – be changing in our favour with widespread recognition that community pharmacy is both underfunded and a potential solution to the crisis in the NHS. However, the day-to-day grind is taking its toll

10 Feb 2023

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Govt wants to ‘progress Pharmacy First’ says health sec Barclay

Speculation that a walk-in minor ailments service may be up for discussion again after Barclay remarks

16 Nov 2022

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Minister wants a 'direct' Pharmacy First model for England

Caulfield indicates the need for patients to be referred to pharmacies may come under review.

17 Jan 2022

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Scottish contractors to be paid lower base rate for Pharmacy First

Base rate to drop by a fifth in January as activity funding pool set to increase.

09 Dec 2021

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Independent prescribing 'a game changer' for Scotland

Independent prescribing training for pharmacists will be a “game changer” for the NHS in Scotland, the sector negotiator has said. 

23 Apr 2021

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Independent prescribing 'a game changer' for Scotland

Independent prescribing training for pharmacists will be a “game changer” for the NHS in Scotland, the sector negotiator has said. 

23 Apr 2021

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Pharmacy manifesto for next Scottish government

With a general election in Scotland coming up in May, Commumnity Pharmacy Scotland has launched a manifesto for the next Government.

03 Mar 2021

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Pharmacy manifesto for next Scottish government

With a general election in Scotland coming up in May, Commumnity Pharmacy Scotland has launched a manifesto for the next Government.

03 Mar 2021

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Scotland's Pharmacy First service launches to Government praise

Community pharmacies in Scotland are set to undergo the biggest change to their contractual framework in recent years.

29 Jul 2020

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