More than 150,000 consultations have taken place in south west London since the launch of the Pharmacy First service.
The initiative allows people to receive treatment from high street pharmacies for seven common conditions, minor illnesses and urgent medicine supply without needing to see their GP or attend an urgent care setting.
The latest data reveals that between February 2024 and the end of April 2025, over 70,000 south west London patients were able to get advice, treatment, and medicines from the pharmacy in their area for conditions such as sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
In the same period, pharmacies across south west London also delivered more than 35,000 consultations for minor illness referrals and more than 45,000 consultations for urgent medicine supplies.
Pharmacies will no doubt continue to be key players in strengthening the future of the NHS – shifting care from treatment to prevention and from hospitals to the community.
Dina Thakker, NHS South West London Community Pharmacy Clinical Lead
Some 266 south west London pharmacies are involved in Pharmacy First following the initiative’s launch at the end of January 2024. It is part of the NHS’ effort to offer people more choice in care close to home while also helping to ease the pressure on services in hospitals and GP surgeries.
NHS South West London’s Community Pharmacy Clinical Lead Dina Thakker said: “When people are unwell they want quick and easy care and that’s why being able to pop into your pharmacy on a high street on your way home from work or while you pick up some essentials at the shops is so important.
“Our south west London pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are highly skilled professionals who are trusted to provide clinical care and support people in their neighbourhoods to prevent and treat ill-health.
“These latest figures are proof of that and pharmacies will no doubt continue to be key players in strengthening the future of the NHS – shifting care from treatment to prevention and from hospitals to the community.”
Via the Pharmacy First service, pharmacies across south west London have delivered the most consultations for acute sore throats (nearly 29,000) followed by uncomplicated urinary tract infections (nearly 17,500).
To use the Pharmacy First service people can self-refer by contacting their local pharmacy.
An appointment can be booked in advance by using the NHS website to find a local pharmacy and call the pharmacy or people can just turn up to inquire if they can do the appointment straight away. People can also be referred by a GP practice or NHS 111.