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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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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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PDA urges members to report 'commercially motivated' Pharmacy First behaviour

The PDA told members to get in touch in confidence after reports some companies threatened to cancel locums’ shifts.

05 Feb 2024

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Pharmacy First: Sore throat – part 2

This CPD module is the latest in our series designed to support pharmacists in delivering the Pharmacy First service in England. It covers the clinical management of acute sore throat.

02 Feb 2024

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Pharmacy Magazine Podcast – Talking Pharmacy, February 2

The Pharmacy First service in England is live – the CIG editors discuss the launch, gauge pharmacist reaction and dig into the weeds of a row between locums and two of the major multiples. Plus the messy business of LloydsPharmacy and its many creditors...

02 Feb 2024

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Asda clarifies Pharmacy First target and denies link-selling claims

Asda denies setting an initial target of 30 consultations a month for its stores and sending a communication to staff telling them “link-selling is key.”

02 Feb 2024

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PDA: NHS England refused request to phase in Pharmacy First gradually

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association says pharmacists were not properly consulted about the service.

01 Feb 2024

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Locums claim Rowlands threatened to cancel shifts if they didn’t make Pharmacy First declaration

Rowlands said locums are "responsible for ensuring they are competent to deliver Pharmacy First."

01 Feb 2024

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Nearly half of respondents to YouGov survey didn’t know about Pharmacy First launch

Forty-four per cent of the 2,028 people from England, Wales and Scotland who responded were unaware about the scheme.

31 Jan 2024

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Pharmacy First launch: Service will deliver ‘faster, simpler’ patient care

Health leaders welcome the launch today of the landmark service in England.

31 Jan 2024

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Some patients have never heard of conditions under Pharmacy First

Of 937 Superdrug customers who took part in its study, 32 per cent and 23 per cent had not heard of impetigo and sinusitis respectively.

30 Jan 2024

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Pharmacy First is welcome but must not burden pharmacies, says Haleon chief

Haleon vice-president for GB and Ireland Bas Vorsteveld said the launch of Pharmacy First is a “major milestone".

30 Jan 2024

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Pharmacy First set to launch this week

NHS England has confirmed that the Pharmacy First service will launch on Wednesday and a national marketing campaign will run from mid-February.

29 Jan 2024

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Asda area manager warns locums who don’t engage with Pharmacy First will be removed

Asda healthcare area manager Andrew Windus said locums who refuse to engage with Pharmacy First will be "removed" from Locate a Locum's platform "permanently."

29 Jan 2024

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Asda offers customers money incentive to talk to it about Pharmacy First

English Pharmacy Board members Thorrun Govind and Paul Summerfield have aired concerns about Asda's offer to put £1 in customers’ cash pots.

24 Jan 2024

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PDA survey shows support for Pharmacy First but concerns over delivery

Survey shows 84 per cent say that Pharmacy First could improve patient care, but 87 per cent feel that if service s not introduced or resourced properly, it could damage fragile workforce situation.

23 Jan 2024

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