Published on: 25 July 2023
Health Bosses in Herefordshire and Worcestershire have announced that the range of care services in NHS community pharmacies continues to expand. This means you can now get clinical advice and treatment from local pharmacies in the two counties for a range of extra minor illnesses without visiting your GP practice.
The aim is to help people in a way that is more convenient for them as part of an agreement between NHS community pharmacists and the wider NHS.
A list of participating pharmacies can be found here: NHS England — Midlands » Pharmacies offering Extended Care Services
Pharmacists involved in the service can treat women aged between 16 and 64 with simple UTIs, as well as children aged from 3 months to 2 years who present with acute bacterial conjunctivitis. Pharmacists can also treat skin infections including impetigo, infected eczema and infected insect bites.
Some pharmacists are also able to treat middle ear infection in children aged from three months to 16 years particularly common in younger children.
Alison Rogers, the NHS HW Pharmacy Integration & Medicines Assurance Lead, says:
“This is a great step forward in making treatment more accessible for people in local surroundings as it allows people to receive advice and treatment from a qualified healthcare professional, often without an appointment or wait times. It’s part of an increasing range of clinical services pharmacists can offer to their communities and we encourage patients to use their local pharmacy for a growing number of these services.
We have been delighted with the support from NHS community pharmacists who work closely with us to provide more services in convenient pharmacy locations for patients.
Pharmacists are already carrying out clinical checks such as blood pressure and vaccinations for flu and Covid-19, and further services are planned, too including contraception services. We are working on increasing the information available to patients on where and when they can access these new services”
