Laura welcomes the launch of the Government’s Pharmacy First approach, helping patients across West Berkshire to receive care more quickly through better use of our community pharmacies.
246 pharmacies in Bucks, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West have signed up to Pharmacy First so far, which enables pharmacists to utilise more of their medical skills and training. This will mean that patients across West Berkshire can receive treatment for seven common health conditions from their local pharmacy without the need to visit a GP or have a prescription.
On Friday Laura visited Lambourn Pharmacy to discuss the Pharmacy First scheme with pharmacist Graham Jones. You can watch a video from the visit here.
Speaking about the Pharmacy First scheme, Laura said:
“I am delighted that the Government has launched the Pharmacy First approach, using the skills of our wonderful pharmacists like Graham to treat more people in the community without the need for a GP.
Local pharmacies will now be able to help with acute conditions including sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. Following an assessment, the pharmacist can then supply the prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals, to treat the problem. This scheme will remove the need for a GP appointment, which will speed up patients care as well as reduce pressure on our local GP services.”