Report: Evaluating the effectiveness of the Pharmacy First service in Wiltshire
Wiltshire residents and local pharmacists spoke to us about their experiences of Pharmacy First.
Pharmacists can offer advice on a range of illnesses. Pharmacy First was introduced by the NHS in 2024, and means pharmacists can now diagnose and supply medication for seven common conditions, without visiting a GP.
To find out how well Pharmacy First is working in Wiltshire, we spoke to people across the county - including local pharmacists.
Download our full report below.
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Evaluating the effectiveness of the Pharmacy First service in Wiltshire
What did people tell us about Pharmacy First?
- 41% of people had heard of Pharmacy First.
- Of those, 65% were satisfied with the service they received and felt that it had saved time.
- Of the 41% of people who had heard of Pharmacy First, 60% said they could explain the service to a friend.
- 57% of people did not know whether a pharmacy near to them provided a Pharmacy First service.
- 20% of respondents still needed to see their GP.
What are the seven common conditions that pharmacists can now treat?
- Sinusitis (For patients aged 12 years and above
- Sore throat (For patients aged 5 years and above)
- Earache (For patients aged 1-17 years)
- Infected insect bite (For patients aged 1 year and above)
- Impetigo (a bacterial skin infection; For patients aged 1 year and above)
- Shingles (For patients aged 18 years and over)
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (For women aged 16-64 years)
Recommendations
Generic promotion
- A broad campaign to promote the service more widely will increase knowledge and lead to more informed usage, to greater trust and to Pharmacy First being part of a more streamlined primary care provision.
Community-specific publicity
- Increase knowledge of how Pharmacy First can meet the needs of people across Wiltshire, e.g. highlight the convenience with no need for an appointment, and the flexibility offered by longer hours.
- Pharmacy First can have greater appeal for people who work full time.
- For those communities such as some Traveller communities who are not registered with a GP Pharmacy First could be more convenient. For others the very local nature of Pharmacy First appeals because a pharmacy may be geographically nearer to them than a GP.
Translation
- Further work should be undertaken to explore the need for translated materials and translation services. Where there are patients for whom English is not their first language, pharmacists need to be equipped with effective translation tools for consultations.
Have you used Pharmacy First? Share your feedback with us by completing our online feedback form.
