Dear parents/carers,
I am writing to let you know about an NHS service which pharmacies across England are offering for children (as well as adults) called Pharmacy First.
The Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) is one of the top referrers to the Pharmacy First service. This achievement highlights the commitment of local Primary Care Teams making healthcare more accessible and convenient for patients.
What is Pharmacy First?
Community pharmacists offer free and confidential advice for minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, and eye infection. If appropriate, they can also provide treatment without a prescription for seven common conditions:
- Urinary tract infection (women aged 16-64)
- Sinusitis (adults and children aged 12+)
- Sore throat (adults and children aged 5+)
- Earache (children and young adults aged 1-17)
- Infected insect bite (adults and children aged 1+)
- Impetigo (adults and children aged 1+)
- Shingles (adults aged 18+)
The pharmacy will send an electronic message to the person’s GP surgery so their health record can be updated. Should the pharmacist be unable to help, they will direct the person to their GP surgery or other health professional as appropriate.
This service takes away the potential delay of having to wait for a GP appointment and may help ensure children get well and back to school as quickly as possible, as well as supporting parents/carers to also get better sooner if they are unwell.
Patients that are already exempt from prescription charges, such as children, will still be exempt from charges if treatment is provided for the listed conditions, otherwise usual NHS prescription charge rules apply.
For more information on how your pharmacist can help, visit Black Country ICB Pharmacy First website or watch the video on YouTube.
Yours sincerely,
Sukhy Somal,
ICS Head of Community Pharmacy Clinical Services, Black Country ICB.