Patients in England will receive NHS treatment for migraines, acne, scabies, ear infections, and hay fever directly from pharmacists under an expanded high street scheme.
From this autumn as part of a phased rollout, people will be able to get help and clinical treatment for the five additional conditions from participating community pharmacies without needing to see a general practitioner (GP) first.
The newly added conditions cover a range of common ailments. Migraines are severe headaches often accompanied by nausea and light sensitivity, while acne is a widespread skin condition affecting oil glands and hair follicles. Allergic rhinitis, commonly called hay fever, causes nasal inflammation from environmental allergens, scabies is a contagious skin infestation caused by tiny mites, and ear infections involve painful swelling or fluid in the ear.
Once fully rolled out, NHS officials expect between two and three million consultations for the new list of conditions could be held in local pharmacies each year.
At present, qualified community pharmacists in England can treat seven common conditions under the Pharmacy First scheme. These existing conditions include impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, one type of ear infection, sore throat, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Community pharmacies form a core part of the primary care infrastructure in England, providing accessible clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines on commercial high streets. Around four in five people in England live within a 20-minute walk of a community pharmacy, making local chemists one of the most geographically accessible components of NHS healthcare.
The expansion comes as the Daily Mail has campaigned to save High Street pharmacies, which can increase access to healthcare services and play a vital role in supporting local communities across the country.
NHS England winter preparations
New figures show that the Pharmacy First service has delivered 14 million consultations since its initial launch in February 2024. That total includes 2 million appointments for acute sore throats, alongside more than 1.7 million consultations for urinary tract infections.
Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, highlighted the role of local pharmacy teams as health services prepare for seasonal pressures in the colder months.
"Thanks to community pharmacy teams, millions of people have received treatment for common conditions quickly and conveniently on their local high streets with the NHS determined to make it as easy as possible for people to get help," Dr Doyle said.
"As the NHS steps up winter preparations, we want to make sure that patients can get as much support as possible in their communities, so they do not have to be admitted to hospital unnecessarily."
Dr Doyle added: "That's why participating pharmacies will start offering help for new common conditions such as acne, migraines and ear infections - without needing to get a GP appointment first - so they're freed up for people who need them most in the colder months."
NHS England is the executive non-departmental body responsible for overseeing the budget, strategic planning, and operational delivery of primary care and hospital services across England's public healthcare system. Primary care services include GP practices, community pharmacies, dental clinics, and high street opticians.
Pharmacy leaders call for funding
Industry leaders representing community chemists welcomed the expansion of clinical services while pointing out ongoing operational and financial pressures facing local branches.
Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, which represents around 6,000 independent pharmacies across the UK, praised the announcement but called for broader reform.
"This is a really significant announcement and it is great to see patients being able to be treated for more conditions on their doorstep at their local pharmacy, without having to see a GP," Mr Gregg said.
"We want to see the government turbo charge the role of pharmacies, including rolling out more prescribing services to patients on the NHS."
Mr Gregg highlighted devolved healthcare arrangements elsewhere in the United Kingdom, noting: "In Scotland, patients can be treated for 27 different conditions at their pharmacy, with a third of the population accessing this service last year, many steps ahead of England."
He added: "Pharmacies are still under significant financial pressures and this just shows why the Government should go much further and invest in our pharmacy network that has the power to transform people's experience of everyday health issues."
The National Pharmacy Association serves as the trade body for independent pharmacy businesses, which account for a substantial proportion of local high street healthcare providers across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. NHS Scotland operates independently under the devolved Scottish Government in Edinburgh, having established its own comprehensive community pharmacy scheme.
Pharmacy chains and government response
Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists' Association, which represents major pharmacy chains such as Boots and Superdrug, also supported the clinical expansion.
"Expanding to more pharmacy first conditions is an important step towards making better use of pharmacists' clinical expertise and giving patients greater access to more convenient NHS care," Mr Harrison said.
The Company Chemists' Association represents large corporate pharmacy retailers including Boots, founded in Nottingham in 1849, and Superdrug, two of the largest retail health and beauty networks in the UK.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the expanded scheme directly addresses public frustration with accessing routine primary medical services.
"People are fed up with the scramble for routine appointments. They want help when they need it, close to home," Prime Minister Burnham said. "That's exactly what this delivers - no more taking time off work or waiting hours to get seen."
"For five more common conditions, you'll be able to walk into your local pharmacy and get treated on the spot," he added. "This is change families will feel in their day to day as we build a better Britain."
Prime Minister Burnham concluded: "Treating people closer to home means catching problems earlier, easing pressure on GPs and A&E, and giving people back precious time."
In the UK health system, Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments provide emergency care for life-threatening conditions in hospital settings, while General Practitioner surgeries handle routine appointments. Diversion of minor conditions to pharmacists is designed to relieve capacity constraints across both settings.
The expansion of NHS Pharmacy First will begin rolling out in phases this autumn across participating pharmacies in England, with health officials aiming to divert millions of routine consultations away from general practice surgeries and emergency departments ahead of winter.
