Pharmacy First
Pharmacy First launched as an Advanced Service on 31st January 2024.
Further information can be found via: Pharmacy First – Community Pharmacy England (cpe.org.uk)
From April 2025, changes have been introduced to the way Pharmacy First clinical pathways consultations are funded – with new monthly caps now in place for every pharmacy. Click here to learn what has changed and what you need to do.
| PLEASE NOTE: Following the announcement on 31st March that arrangements for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 contract have been finalised, we are currently reviewing and updating the content on this webpage. |
The following key documents have now been published:
- Service specification
- Clinical pathways
- 23 PGDs
- Protocol
From January 2025, new caps have been introduced. These caps are based on a pharmacy’s previous service delivery and state the maximum number of consultations which you can receive payment for each month. You can deliver additional consultations above the monthly cap but the £17 per consultation service fee will not be paid.
New MYS feature to track national service activity
A new MYS Claims Report feature has been launched on PharmOutcomes. It’s designed to make the reconciliation of your MYS claims faster and easier and will provide your pharmacy team with a more efficient way to manage and review claims.
For further details, download the MYS briefing
CPE: Initial briefing for pharmacy teams
CPE: Pharmacy owner implementation checklist: Pharmacy First service
CPE: Pharmacist implementation checklist: Pharmacy First service
CPGM Pharmacy First Urgent Meds Supply – Out of Stock Checklist
CPE: Medicines list for clinical pathway consultations
CPE: Videos to talk you through the clinical pathways
Cancer Research UK: Summary of key safety netting actions for suspected cancer patients
Pharmacy First – Toolkit – We have produced this document to support you to deliver the service.
Spotlight on Services: Pharmacy First – We have produced this as part of our Spotlight on Services series to provide you with tips to support service delivery.
Operational Top-Tips Guidance document – We have produced this document containing top-tips for contractors in preparation to provide the service.
FAQs Guidance Document – We have produced this document containing FAQs alongside guidance for contractors in providing the service.
Remote Consultations Guidance document– This document containing practical considerations and other useful information to help you with remote consultations.
Emergency supply of medicines for Pharmacy First – We have produced a summary document of general points to consider outlined in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 in the deliverance of Pharmacy First Service.
Urgent escalation – We have developed a document which explains the process for non-urgent escalations.
Non urgent escalation – We have developed a document which explains the process for non-urgent escalations.
In order to help you, CPGM have produced a summary document of all available Pharmacy First training providers
CPPE: Pharmacy First – Delivering a Quality Service E-learning available on-demand
This training aims to provide you with the skills to review consultations, improve your confidence, manage people’s expectations around appropriate antibiotic use and much more. Click here to access the training
CPE Webinars: Implementing Pharmacy First
CPE hosted a series of webinars to help pharmacy teams prepare for the new Pharmacy First service, and changes to the Contraception and Hypertension Case-Finding Services.
- Pharmacy First: Getting to know the service (Wed 13th Dec)- Watch on-demand
- Pharmacy First: Getting ready for launch (Mon 15th Jan) Watch on-demand
CPPE: Common Conditions Training
To support you in delivering Pharmacy First and treating common conditions, CPPE have launched a new Common clinical conditions e-learning programme. This includes practical tips and advice on managing over 50 different common conditions.
SPS: Pharmacy First Podcast
In this series pharmacy colleagues and expert clinicians talk about issues surrounding the service and try to debunk clinical myths. Listen now
To claim payments for the Pharmacy First service, claims should be submitted within one month of, and no later than three months from the claim period for the chargeable activity provided.
CPE have published a page containing a range of FAQs
Patient leaflets for common conditions – When providing a consultation for one of the seven clinical pathways, patients can be signposted to this information.
NHSE promotional materials – You can use these in your pharmacy and across your website and social media platforms to promote the service
CPE Pharmacy First promotion checklist: Suggested actions to promote the service to their patients.
NHS GM – Videos to promote the service to patients
CPE have published a template letter/email that can be sent to GP practices introducing the service
They have also published a briefing for GP practice teams that can also be sent with the letter/email.
A breakdown of all referral criteria and a quick reference guide has been produced for use by GPs to identify which patients can be referred to pharmacy as part of this new service. Please note that these documents have not been signed off by the NHS.
Pharmacy First template PowerPoint presentation for LPCs (general practice colleagues)
Below we have included links to documents that have been sent to GP practices in relation to this service. These have been uploaded for your information and reference.
NW 2024 PF Briefing Pack for GP Practice Teams
NW Pharmacy First GP support pack letter
Pharmacy First – explainer summary for general practice
CPE have published a range of new resources that you can use when talking to GPs about Pharmacy First. this include an animated video that explains how GP practices can refer patients and information about how the service works.
PharmOutcomes have launched a Resource Centre to support users with Pharmacy First. This area hosts a number of useful items including:
- A training video for the new NHS Pharmacy First service
- How to join an affinity group
- Get ready for Pharmacy First – Service guide
- PharmOutcomes Registration guide- How to sign up
The service involves providing consultations to give advice and NHS-funded treatment (via Patient Group Directions), where appropriate, for seven common conditions (clinical pathways consultations). The consultations can be provided to patients who self-refer to the pharmacy (e.g. walk-ins) as well as those referred by NHS 111, GPs and others.
Fees
From 1st April 2025, the consultation fee for Minor illness and Clinical Pathway consultations increased to £17 (from £15). The fee for urgent supply consultations remains at £15.
Monthly Payment
From 1st June 2025, a banded approach will be added to the monthly payment:
- £500 for those providing 20-29 Clinical pathway consultations within a month; and
- £1000 for those pharmacies that provide 30 or more Clinical pathway consultations within a month.
Further information about Bundling requirements and claiming can be found on CPE’s website.
From 1st June 2025, pharmacy owners must be registered and able to deliver the Hypertension Case Finding Service, the Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS) and the Pharmacy First service, in addition to delivering the minimum number of clinical pathway consultations to achieve the fixed payment for the service. Read more about the bunding
Patient Survey
A short survey has been developed for patients to complete after receiving this service.
To help you to promotes the survey to patients, flyers and posters have been produced.
