A total of 10,645 pharmacies have signed up to deliver Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) as of January 15, according to NHS England.
This is 92 per cent of the total English pharmacies, with the Midlands area claiming top spot with 20 per cent of the total registration.
In the first 11 weeks since the service was launched on October 29, 2019, pharmacies handled 125,724 referrals – 55,424 for minor illness and 70, 300 for urgent medical supplies.
Deputy Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Dr Bruce Warner hailed the service “a fantastic success.”
“This unlocks the full potential of community pharmacy, giving it a more central role in healthcare and speeding up patients’ access to excellent care and face-to-face consultations. The number of referrals from NHS 111 in the first two months alone shows how well it is working and the reaction has been good, with people telling us they have been satisfied with the service they received,” Dr Warner said.
January 15 was the deadline for community pharmacies to be eligible for the £600 transition payment.
New CPCS registrations can still be made, but pharmacists will not receive the transition payment supplement.
