Pharmacy prescribing plan a ‘step in right direction’ for NHS England

There are three classes of medicines under English law. The first class covers general sale list or ‘over-the-counter’ medicines that can be bought off the shelf in a pharmacy, supermarket or corner shop. The second class covers pharmacy-only medicines which do not require a prescription but can only be sold under the supervision of a pharmacist, such as stronger painkillers. The third class of medicines is reserved for ones that can only be obtained with a prescription written by a doctor or other persons legally permitted to prescribe, including dentists and certain nurse practitioners.

Under the new proposals, pharmacists in England will be able to prescribe medicines for seven common conditions: earache, sore throat, sinusitis, impetigo, shingles, infected insect bites and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. Women will also be able to receive oral contraceptive pills directly from pharmacies.

Louise Fullwood of Pinsent Masons said: “It has been clear for a long time that high street pharmacists are underutilised as a primary healthcare provider and could be freed up to take more work from the shoulders of GPs. This new scheme is a step forward in this direction.”

Fullwood added: “The Scottish and Welsh governments introduced prescribing by pharmacists a couple of years ago and it has been successful, with waiting lists for the training course and a wider range of products eligible to be prescribed by pharmacists. It will be interesting to see the detail of the proposals and, as always, securing the right level of funding will be critical because pharmacies have been under considerable pressure in recent years. The plan will only be successful if there are enough properly trained pharmacists to take on this role.”

Reforms will also allow patients to self-refer for certain services, like NHS physiotherapy or podiatry, without seeking permission from their GP first. NHS England said these changes would take pressure off GP practices, freeing up 15 million appointments over the next two years, and provide faster and more convenient access to treatment for their patients.