Fully-funded Pharmacy First service could free up 30m+ GP appointments annually
The CCA has published its analysis as to how community pharmacies in England could free up 30m+ GP appointments annually. The NHS’ 2023 ‘Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care’ announced a Pharmacy First service for England, based on seven common health conditions. The CCA estimates this will free up 6m+ GP appointments, five times less than what a fully-funded service, predicated on harnessing Independent Prescribing, could. The CCA urge the Government and NHS to be even bolder in their ambition and go further and faster with Pharmacy First.