February 5th 2025

By Ailsa Colquhoun

Pharmacy First use peaks on Sunday and Bank Holidays

Demand for consultations using Pharmacy First doubles on Sundays. In addition, there are spikes in activity around bank holidays.

In new research, The Future of Pharmacy First, pharmacy representative the Company Chemists’ Association estimates that the service will provide 2.5 million consultations by its current end date (April 2025).

However, the current version of the service has a potential to move nine million GP appointments into pharmacy, it says.

Regarding use of the service, the research highlights a north and south divide: pharmacies in The Black Country provided over two and a half times more consultations than North Central London when adjusted for population size.

It addition, over a quarter (27%) of Pharmacy First consultations have been provided in the top 20 per cent most deprived communities.  

In terms of services, almost a third (30%) of all consultations are for urinary tract infections (UTIs), followed by sore throat (28%), infected insect bites (13%), ear infection (12%), sinusitis (9%), impetigo (5%), and shingles (3%).

The report urges policymakers to expand the remit of the service to include eye infections, migraines, chest infections, lower back pain and dental pain, as well as other patient groups.

Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the CCA, said: “An expanded service could free up 40m GP appointments.”

The service is currently funded until April 2025.