A New Option for Everyday Care: 5 Conditions Treatable at Pharmacies Without a GP Appointment
From autumn, hundreds of pharmacies across England will expand their services so patients can walk into participating high street pharmacies and get on-the-spot treatment for migraines, acne, scabies, ear infections and rhinitis — without needing to see a GP first.
This is an expansion of the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, which allows people to get care for certain common conditions from qualified pharmacists. It means patients can visit a pharmacy at a time that fits their schedule rather than booking a GP appointment.
Why This Matters
The move aims to ease pressure on GPs and A&E departments ahead of what could be another record-breaking winter for the NHS. NHS figures show there were more than 77,000 hospital admissions for ear diseases, 47,500 linked to migraines, 5,000 for vasomotor and allergic rhinitis, and 681 for scabies in 2024/25.
Once fully rolled out, evidence suggests 2 to 3 million consultations for these 5 conditions could take place each year in community pharmacies. This follows the NHS experiencing its 3 busiest months ever recorded in A&Es between May and July.
Pharmacy First Already Delivering Results
Thousands of pharmacies already offer support for 7 common conditions through Pharmacy First. New figures show the service has delivered 14 million consultations since its launch in February 2024, including 2 million appointments for acute sore throats and more than 1.7 million for urinary tract infections.
Around 4 in 5 people in England live within a 20-minute walk of a community pharmacy, making it easier for patients to access NHS care closer to home.
Expert and Patient Voices
Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said: “Thanks to community pharmacy teams, millions of people have received treatment for common conditions quickly and conveniently on their local high streets. As the NHS steps up winter preparations, we want to make sure that patients can get as much support as possible in their communities.”
Rob Music, Chief Executive of The Migraine Trust, said: “We are delighted that migraine is being added to the Pharmacy First Scheme. Our recent research highlighted that people with migraine can struggle to access timely care, and this is a wonderful opportunity for a faster and improved care pathway.”
Louise, 46, from Bristol, shared her experience: she visited her community pharmacist twice for sinusitis symptoms, where she was examined and received prescription-only medicine without booking a GP appointment. She also took her 4-year-old daughter to the pharmacy for reduced hearing and received advice and over-the-counter medicine. “It's saved me a lot of time and it's really reassuring that I can pop in and get help quickly, particularly for my little one.”
Winter Flu Programme Also Underway
The NHS has rolled out the first phase of its flu programme, with millions of children and pregnant women able to get their flu vaccinations from 1 September.
Government Backing for Pharmacy Services
The government is backing pharmacies to help more people access care conveniently in their neighbourhoods, including:
- Making the ‘morning-after pill’ available free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS for the first time
- Offering patients suffering depression convenient support at pharmacies when prescribed antidepressants
- Cutting red tape so more of the pharmacy team can deliver services such as medicines advice, Pharmacy First consultations, and blood pressure checks
- Boosting financial incentives for pharmacists to identify patients with undiagnosed high blood pressure
- Boosting funding for medicine supply
There are 10,000 community NHS pharmacies in England.
Xiaoshu Health Tip
Whether you're in the UK or elsewhere, managing chronic common conditions like migraines and allergic rhinitis requires daily monitoring and symptom tracking. Xiaoshu Health App can sync with Apple Health to track relevant metrics, helping you record headache frequency, medication use, and blood pressure changes for more complete reference data when seeking care.