Welsh Pharmacy Service Helps 1.25M People with Common Ailments Since 2013, Reducing GP Burden

Almost all pharmacies in Wales provide free advice and treatment for 28 common ailments, helping reduce GP appointments significantly  

The common ailments service, available in 99 per cent of pharmacies throughout Wales, has helped almost 1.25 million people since its launch in 2013, according to a government release.

Last year, more than 400,000 people used the service, which provides access to free, confidential advice and treatments for 28 common illnesses, including sore throats and urinary tract infections.

The Welsh government has backed this service expansion with substantial funding, increasing its investment by 24 per cent since 2016 to 2017, with an additional £9.9 million this year.

Health secretary Jeremy Miles has urged people to visit local pharmacies for minor ailments to help to free up GP appointments for people with more complex or urgent health issues.

Miles said: “We know there is very high demand for GP services in Wales, with around 1.6 million people contacting their practice each month.

“For most common health concerns, your local pharmacy is the best option, providing free and easy access to treatment.”

He also revealed the government is working with the NHS to provide more care in the community, closer to people’s homes.

Gwawr Davies-Jones, a pharmacist at High Street Pharmacy, Barry, emphasized that their role has changed considerably since the implementation of the new pharmacy contract in 2022.

“Instead of being in the dispensary, we are now in the consultation room for the most part of the day, offering clinical services,” she said.

She revealed that on average they undertake more than 20 consultations every day, ranging from providing contraception to emergency medicine supplies.

“We feel we offer an invaluable service to our community. The services we offer alleviate pressures on the NHS, providing great satisfaction to pharmacists knowing that they are doing their bit,” Gwawr added.

In addition to common ailments service, many Welsh pharmacies offer emergency contraception, annual flu vaccinations and regular contraception services.

Currently, around 220 pharmacies – equivalent to a third of all pharmacies in Wales – are also delivering the pharmacist independent prescribing service.

This enables pharmacists to treat a range of conditions such as ear, skin and respiratory infections, sinusitis and migraine.

Most people (95 per cent) who visited pharmacies for common conditions said that they would have otherwise visited their GP or other healthcare provider, had they not been able to access this service.

Furthermore, the official statement mentioned that around 100 community pharmacists are undertaking prescribing training every year in Wales.

From 2026, all newly qualified pharmacists will be prescribers at the point of registration.