Expand Pharmacy First to free up 40 million GP appointments – CCA urges policymakers

Marking Pharmacy First’s first anniversary in England, the Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) has called on policymakers to expand the service, highlighting that there’s still “significant room for growth.”

In a report released today, the association estimates that expanding the service could free up 40 million general practice (GP) appointments every year – more than four times the current potential – and around a tenth of all GP
appointments.

In its current form, the service is expected to free up more than 9 million GP appointments annually.

The CCA has recommended expanding the criteria and treatments available for the existing seven conditions and introducing new conditions.

According to the report, community pharmacies provided nearly 1.5 million consultations for the seven covered conditions —earaches, urinary tract infections, sore throats