NHS Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has announced a 42% jump in Pharmacy First consultations between April and July 2026, when compared with the same period last year.
In a LinkedIn post, the NHS trust has stated that community pharmacies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight delivered just under 87,000 Pharmacy First consultations during the above period, as against 61,000 last year – an increase of over 25,000 consultations.
Pharmacy First enables people to get expert advice and, where appropriate, treatment for common health conditions directly from a community pharmacist, and no GP referral is needed.
When this data was collated, only seven common conditions covered by the Pharmacy First scheme, and now five more have been added.
The new conditions are:
- Low-frequency episodic migraine, for adults, aged 18 to 64.
- Seasonal allergic rhinitis, including hay fever, for children aged four to 11.
- Acute otitis externa, an infection of the outer ear, for adults aged 18 and over.
- Mild to moderate acne, for young people and adults.
- Mild skin and soft-tissue infections and scabies.
These are grouped within one new prescribing pathway rather than listed as two separate pathways.
These service will be introduced gradually, the NHS trust has offered to support pharmacies to make sure their staff, training and systems are ready to provide the service safely and effectively.
Pharmacy First is part of a broader change in how health services are delivered, with more advice, assessment and treatment available in local communities.
This supports the development of neighbourhood health across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight by making better use of the expertise available through community pharmacies, general practice, community health services and other local partners.
Community pharmacies already provide services including advice and over-the-counter treatments for coughs, colds and other minor illnesses, blood pressure checks, contraception, support with medicines and seasonal vaccinations. The services available vary between pharmacies.
