Pharmacy First

Healthwatch Halton undertook research to gather feedback from people about their knowledge and experience of Pharmacy First and other community pharmacy services. A total of 166 residents completed a survey. The data collection period was not reported.

A majority of respondents (39%) reported that they had not heard of Pharmacy First and only 7% said that they had heard of Pharmacy First and knew a lot about it. Nearly 3 quarters of respondents (73%) were aware that Pharmacy First was able to provide advice and treatment for shingles in adults. Half of the respondents were aware that Pharmacy First was able to provide advice and treatment of sore throats in people aged over 5 years. Less than half of respondents said they were aware that Pharmacy First was able to provide advice and treatment of ear infection in children and young people (41%), Urinary Tract Infections for women (24%); infected insect bites (20%); sinusitis for over 12-yearolds (19%); and impetigo (14%).

Of the 51% of people who said they had used Pharmacy First, there was a near even split of those who self-referred as a first option (31%), were referred/advised by NHS 111 (28%), and were referred/advised by their GP (29%). Nine in 10 respondents rated the service as very good or good.

Whan asked about their awareness of the other additional services offered by community pharmacies, a majority of people said they were unaware of; appliance use review services, lateral flow device services, new medicine services, primary contraception services, smoking cessation services, and stoma appliance customisation. Most respondents were aware that community pharmacies offered flu vaccinations, and just under half of respondents were aware that they could have blood pressure checks at a community pharmacy.

The report included 3 recommendations: raise awareness in general of both Pharmacy First and the other additional services that are offered by community pharmacies, address public awareness of the limitations of the service offered through Pharmacy First, and ensuring that GP practices signpost their patients appropriately.