In short
- Pharmacists in England will be able to treat 12 common conditions from autumn 2026, after five were added to the Pharmacy First scheme.
- The five new conditions are migraines, acne, scabies, ear infections and badly blocked noses.
- The seven conditions already covered were sore throat, earache, sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, infected bites and urinary tract infections.
- NHS figures suggest Pharmacy First, which began in England in 2024, has delivered 14 million consultations, including two million for sore throats and 1.7 million for urinary tract infections.
- A few hundred pharmacies will offer the five new treatments at first, with a gradual rollout expected to reach thousands of community NHS pharmacies across England.
People in England will be able to get on-the-spot treatment for 12 common conditions at their local pharmacy from this autumn, after migraines, acne, scabies, ear infections and badly blocked noses were added to the Pharmacy First scheme, NHS England said. The expansion is intended to reduce pressure on GPs and A&E departments.
What conditions can pharmacists in England treat?
Seven conditions were already covered: sore throat, earache, sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, infected bites and urinary tract infections. The five additions bring the total to 12. Patients can be referred to a pharmacy by NHS 111 or by their GP, or go directly to a high street chemist.
Conditions outside that list are not treated under the scheme. Serious illnesses, such as the incurable blood cancer BBC presenter Maryam Moshiri revealed, remain outside Pharmacy First.
How many pharmacies will offer the new treatments?
A few hundred chemists will initially offer treatment for the five new conditions, NHS England said, with a gradual rollout that will eventually extend the service to thousands of community NHS pharmacies across England.
NHS England said the move was meant to ease pressure on busy GPs and A&E departments and to make treatment quicker and more convenient. The NHS said it came after a very hot summer and three of the busiest months on record in A&E departments in England.
What has the Prime Minister said?
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said people were “fed up with the scramble for routine appointments” and wanted help close to home. “For five more common conditions, you’ll be able to walk into your local pharmacy and get treated on the spot,” he said, adding that the plan would give people back “precious time”.
Who supports and who criticises the expansion?
The charity the Migraine Trust said it was delighted by the news after calling for more help for migraine care in pharmacies. Its chief executive, Rob Music, said the support for people with migraine through their local pharmacy was “a wonderful opportunity for a faster and improved care pathway”.
Dr Amanda Doyle, director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said she wanted patients to get as much support as possible in their communities “so they do not have to be admitted to hospital unnecessarily”.
Bodies representing pharmacies across England have consistently said the funding provided by the government does not cover the workload of the new plans. “Pharmacies are still under significant financial pressures,” said Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, who said the government should “go much further and invest in our pharmacy network”.
How many consultations has Pharmacy First delivered?
Pharmacy First began in England in 2024. NHS figures suggest it has delivered 14 million consultations since then, including two million appointments for sore throats and 1.7 million for urinary tract infections.
Community pharmacies also offer support with healthy eating, exercise, stopping smoking, blood pressure monitoring, contraception, and flu and Covid vaccinations. Separate health research has examined a link between drinking hot tea or coffee at 65C and a higher risk of oesophageal cancer.
What do the other UK nations do?
Scotland has a scheme seen as the model for England’s Pharmacy First, and patients there can be treated for 27 different conditions at chemists. Northern Ireland and Wales also have systems that allow pharmacies to treat patients with certain conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What conditions can pharmacists in England treat under Pharmacy First?
Twelve conditions: sore throat, earache, sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, infected bites, urinary tract infections, migraines, acne, scabies, ear infections and badly blocked noses.
Do I need a GP referral to be seen by a pharmacist?
No. Patients can be referred to their local pharmacy through NHS 111 or by their GP, or go directly to a high street chemist.
When do the five new conditions start being treated in pharmacies?
From autumn 2026. A few hundred chemists will offer the new treatments first, and NHS England says the service will gradually reach thousands of community pharmacies across England.
How many consultations has Pharmacy First delivered?
NHS figures suggest 14 million consultations since the scheme began in England in 2024, including two million appointments for sore throats and 1.7 million for urinary tract infections.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Pharmacist at People's Drug Store, No. 5, 8th and H Streets, N.E., Washington, D.C., looking at prescriptions(?) on the counter in room lined with shelves of pharmacy bottles LCCN2001701714 — National Photo Company Collection / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)