Pharmacy First service saves over 20,000 GP hours in the West Midlands
An innovative NHS service designed to ease pressure off GPs in Birmingham and Solihull has helped save more than 20,000 hours.
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Pharmacy First marked it’s first anniversary on January 31 this year and has enabled patients to get help and support for minor illnesses or urgent repeat medicine supplies.
It has been designed to free up GP appointments for those who need them the most while still providing people with quick and more convenient access to the same level of care they’d receive at their local surgery.
NHS bosses have been encouraging people to take up the initiative, especially over the winter where services have been heavily stretched.
A report to the NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSol) Integrated Care Board said the service has completed 125,053 consultations, resulting in 20,842 hours being saved – the equivalent of 21 full-time clinicians.
It said: “January 31, 2025 marks the 1st year anniversary of Pharmacy First with lots of stories across the system of collaboration and partnership between general practice and community pharmacies to support patient access, along with positive patient feedback on how the service has presented a more accessible and convenient option to seek advice and treatment for minor illnesses and common clinical conditions.
“Outcome – 125,053 pharmacy first consultations completed. Impact – 20,842 Hours Saved – that equates to 21 additional full-time clinicians.”
Pharmacy First provides advice and treatment for sinusitis (for adults and children 12+), sore throat (adults and children 5+), earache (ages 1-17), infected insect bites (adults and children 1+), impetigo (adults and children 1+), shingles (adults) and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (16-64).
People with urgent but non-life threatening health issues are asked to use Urgent Treatment Centres, available through using 111.
Appointments can be given for health issues including sprains and strains, minor injuries, cuts and bruising, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, skin infections and rashes, fevers and mental health concerns.
The report also said that in 2024, general practice in BSol delivered 9.2 million appointments, averaging 766,865 per month.
In the current financial year (April-December), 6,892,887 GP appointments have been completed in BSol, against a target of 6,675,206 – 3.3 per cent or 217,681 appointments above plan.
