Key Summary
- Pharmacies will deliver on-the-spot care for common conditions and gives patients access to a wider range of medicines.
- This will reduce the number of referrals back to GPs, and boost efficiency.
- The funding package and rollout of Independent Prescribing has been agreed with CPE.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has said that the new £340 million government-funded deal will ensure that patients across England will benefit from more services, treatments and better access to medicines from their local pharmacy.
Under the new contractual framework, pharmacists who hold an Independent Prescribing qualification will be able to assess patients and prescribe medicines directly.
This delivers on-the-spot care for common conditions and gives patients access to a wider range of medicines.
The changes, which will be rolled out from Autumn 2026, will reduce the number of referrals back to GPs, boosting efficiency and improving both patient experience and outcomes.
It will also lessen the burden on hospitals, as patients will be able to receive further treatment for common conditions from a qualified pharmacist in their community - avoiding the need to go to an urgent treatment centre or A&E.
The £340 million funding package and rollout of Independent Prescribing has been agreed with Community Pharmacy England (CPE).
Care minister Stephen Kinnock said, "Through our landmark 10 Year Health Plan, we are making the most of our highly skilled pharmacists, while boosting access to services and giving patients more care right on their doorstep.
"Independent Prescribing will play a major part in delivering this shift – easing pressures on GPs, cutting unnecessary red tape and helping patients get the right care closer to home."
CPE chief executive Janet Morrison said, "We welcome the agreement reached for community pharmacies in 2026/27, which includes an important commitment to a programme of reform for the sector. It also opens the door to pharmacist prescribing – a first step towards making fuller use of their clinical expertise.
"We hope these changes, accompanied by appropriate future investment, will help pharmacies to play an even greater role in supporting patients, improving access to care, and helping people get the advice and treatment they need in their communities."
Chief pharmaceutical officer for England, David Webb said, "This is great news for patients that community pharmacists will for the first time be able to prescribe NHS medicines across a range of health conditions as a nationally commissioned service.
"I want to thank everyone involved in making this huge step towards a more effective use of our highly trained workforce in community pharmacy. Community pharmacies will be enabled to play a more integrated role in neighbourhood health teams, digitally connected and helping people access the medicines they need when they need them."
The new scheme is being built on the success of the Pharmacy First service, which was launched in 2024.
It allows patients to see their pharmacist for advice, over-the-counter treatments, and prescription-only medicines.
People can also visit the pharmacy for eye, ear, oral and dental care, as well as seek treatment for digestive problems.
Thousands of newly-qualified pharmacists with prescribing qualifications will enter the sector from the autumn.
They will be the first cohort to be trained with prescribing as part of their pharmacy qualifications. They will be expected to help broaden and improve the Pharmacy First scheme.
