This toolkit is aimed at those who are involved with the implementation of the Pharmacy First service within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It is expected to be especially useful for general practice and community pharmacy teams, but it may also be of benefit to staff working in other sectors. The contents of the toolkit are not intended to be used as patient/public facing information.
Within this toolkit you will find a variety of resources that can be used to support the implementation of the Pharmacy First service. It includes background information for the service, reference materials, supportive resources and referral aides.
The resources contained within this toolkit can be used to support the implementation of the service, growing of the service, and resolving issues that you may experience. If you need any further information or support, please reach out to one of the contacts listed at the end of this toolkit.
Overview of the service
The Pharmacy First service was announced as part of the Primary Care Access and Recovery Plan in May 2023. Following a period of negotiation and service design, the service was formally launched on 31st January 2024.
Pharmacy First is an NHS Advanced Service for Community Pharmacies. The service will include 7 new clinical pathways and builds upon the previous Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS). The full service is made up of the following three elements:
Pharmacy First (clinical pathways)
Allows pharmacy teams to assess and treat seven common conditions that traditionally would need to be treated in general practice.
See below for details of 7 common conditions
Pharmacy First (urgent repeat medicines supply)
This allows UEC and 111 settings to refer patients to community pharmacy for a supply of an urgent repeat medicine. General practices are not able to refer into this element of Pharmacy First.
Pharmacy First (NHS referrals for minor illness)
This allows patients to be referred from general practice, UEC or 111 settings to a community pharmacy for a consultation with a community pharmacist. The pharmacist will assess the patient, offer advice, recommend treatments, or refer to another setting or service if needed.
The seven common conditions which can be treated as part of the clinical pathways arm are:
Further details on inclusion/exclusion criteria can be found in the resources below.
Clinical pathways for Pharmacy First
Patient journey for Pharmacy First
Participating pharmacies
All community pharmacies in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are signed up to deliver all elements of Pharmacy First. There are 3 ways you can find pharmacy details:
NHS Find a Pharmacy Public facing portal to enable anyone to search for a pharmacy close to a defined postcode. Cannot search for pharmacies specifically offering Pharmacy First, but 95% of pharmacies in England offer the service.
NHS Service FinderTool for healthcare staff to search for live services close to a defined postcode. Search for ‘Pharmacy First’ under Type of Service
Resources for pharmacy colleagues
Below you will find a suite of resources that can be used to support the implementation of Pharmacy First in a community pharmacy.
- Pharmacy First best practice checklist This is a checklist based upon learnings from the CPCS service. Pharmacy teams can use the prompts in this checklist to maximise on service delivery and enhance collaborative working practices.
- National media assets These assets can be used to promote the Pharmacy First service. Pharmacy First clinical escalation process. Please contact one of the ICB contacts for a copy of this document. Printable poster on how pharmacy teams should escalate referrals from NHS 111, including how to access the 111 healthcare professionals line
- Local media assets more coming soon!
- Escalation process for Pharmacy First issues The process that should be followed if there are any issues with Pharmacy First referrals. Contains link to report repeated issues to the ICB
- National Blood Pressure Check – Pharmacy Toolkit
Resources for general practice colleagues
Below you will find a suite of resources that can be used to support the implementation of Pharmacy First in general practice.
National Blood Pressure Check – Partner Toolkit
Pharmacy First best practice checklist This is a checklist based upon learnings from the CPCS service. General Practice teams can use the prompts in this checklist to maximise on service delivery and enhance collaborative working practices.
Pharmacy First inclusion/exclusion poster Printable posters for GP reception teams detailing inclusion and exclusion criteria for Pharmacy First minor illness & clinical pathways
Simplified Pharmacy First inclusion/exclusion poster Simplified printable poster for GP reception teams detailing inclusion and exclusion criteria for Pharmacy First clinical pathways.
Local media assets These assets can be used to promote the Pharmacy First service. More coming soon!
National media assets These assets can be used to promote the Pharmacy First service.
Escalation process for Pharmacy First issues – The process that should be followed if there are any issues with Pharmacy First referrals. Contains link to report repeated issues to the ICB.
Pharmacy First summary for GP teams – NHS Midlands produced Pharmacy First summary aimed at GP reception teams and care navigators. This can be used to support training
Other service – contraception
NHS Community Pharmacy Oral Contraception Service – This service enables people seeking contraception to obtain supplies from community pharmacies without first visiting a GP or sexual health clinic.
Members of the public can find a local pharmacy offering this service by utilising the NHS Find a pharmacy offering contraception tool.
For further information on how this can help support your practice, please contact Amanda Fidelis – ICB Senior Clinical Pharmacist (a.fidelis@nhs.net)
Other service – blood pressure checks
NHS Community Pharmacy Blood Pressure Check Service.
This service allows community pharmacy teams to offer people over the age of 40, without a diagnosis of hypertension, a BP check to find those with undiagnosed hypertension. In addition, they can also carry out BP checks (including ABMPs) at the request of practices.
Visit the Find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks – NHS webpage.
For further information on how this can help support your practice, please contact Amanda Fidelis – ICB Senior Clinical Pharmacist (a.fidelis@nhs.net)