WEEKLY COLUMN by Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie 

I visited two local pharmacies before Easter to meet the owners and their staff and discuss the implementation of the Pharmacy First initiative.

Thank you to the wonderful Stroud Family Pharmacy and fabulous Maylane Pharmacy for agreeing to see me.

The scheme is now operating in over 90% of community pharmacies in England since its January launch.

The new service allows pharmacies to prescribe drugs, including antibiotics – for seven of the most common ailments: earache, sore throat, sinusitis, impetigo, shingles, infected insect bites and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.

Women can also receive the contraceptive pill.

£645 million of extra funding has been given by the government for the launch. The plan is to free up 15 million GPs appointments over the next two years. I support the innovation because it is unlocking the skills and potential of pharmacies to deliver care.

Both pharmacies overall were very optimistic about Pharmacy First but, of course, there are teething problems and other issues that need to be worked out.

I am listening carefully to GPs and Pharmacies about what is happening on the ground as they are under so much pressure.

More support might be needed to help GPs and pharmacists work together and as I have said previously, I am worried about primary care generally.

I would support funding being reallocated into these frontline services alongside a campaign to reeducate us all about how to best use GPs and Pharmacies.

Another issue for pharmacies was that unlike GP surgeries, they still pay business rates, with higher rates attached if a surgery is close by. I’m having this battle for childcare nurseries versus school nurseries too so I am happy to take it up with health ministers and the treasury.

It’s still early days and I asked both pharmacies to email me when the scheme has been in place for six months with some bullet points about how the implementation is going and if they need my help.

In the meantime, I thank all pharmacies and GPs for everything they are doing.