NHS Pharmacy First Service (PFS)

14th Aug

Pharmacy Contraception Service

The free service started on 24th April 2023.

The service offers:

1. Initiation of oral contraception

2. On-going supply of oral contraception

3. Review of oral contraception

4. Provision of oral emergency contraception

No need for a prescription from your GP.

For emergency contraceptive pill (morning after pill):

•Open to individuals of childbearing potential following confirmation of unprotected sexual intercourse or where regular contraception has been compromised or used incorrectly

•No age restrictions

•Within 4 to 5 days of having unprotected sex

For oral contraception, open to individuals age from their first period to up to and including:

•49 years for combined oral contraceptives

•54 years for the progestogen only pill (except for Drospirenone –up to and including 49 years)

Please note: For combined oral contraception, a supply will require BMI and a blood pressure measurement to be taken in line with NICE guideline

If eligible for oral contraception:

•On initiation, the pharmacist can supply up to 3 months of contraception

•Following initiation, ongoing supplies will be for a minimum of 6 months and can be made of up to 12 months duration

FAQs

I already use contraceptive pills and have it prescribed. Why should I use this service?

This pharmacy service may be more convenient and accessible than booking an appointment with your GP surgery or at a sexual health clinic for your annual pill check or to get a new prescription. You can choose a time that suits you, and the service is free and confidential.

The NHS has put this pharmacy service in place as a way to reduce demand on GP surgeries.

Will my information be passed on to my GP surgery?

The consultation is confidential, so the pharmacist or pharmacy technician will not talk to your GP surgery or share your information without your consent.

If you agree, the pharmacist or pharmacy technician will send a record of the consultation and the details of any contraception supplied to your GP surgery.

If the pharmacist or pharmacy technician identifies any health problems, for example, raised blood pressure, they will talk to you about sharing this information with your GP surgery.

Your choice of pharmacy

You have the right to choose to use any pharmacy that provides the service.

Many pharmacies offer the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service. Use the NHS website tool for finding a pharmacy that provides the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service.

More information is available at NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service – Community Pharmacy

11th Jul 2024

Minor Illnesses - Digital Triage

Patients are now able to refer themselves to a Pharmacy for minor illnesses, such as:

• Cold or Flu symptoms

• Sore throat

• Cough

• Diarrhoea

• Skin / Rash issues

• Hay Fever

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and can offer clinical advice and medicines for all sorts of minor ailments, with a same day consultation at a time that suits you. Please complete the digital triage on the link below to see if your condition is appropriate for self-referral:

https://www.patienttriage.co.uk/whitehill-surgery

8th Mar 2024

What is the Pharmacy First Service (PFS)?

The Pharmacy First scheme was launched by the UK Government and NHS England on 31 January 2024 to give patients quick and accessible care and to ease pressure on GP services.

Patients can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.

The 7 common symptoms Pharmacy First can treat;

Clinical pathway	Age range
Acute otitis media (earache) *	1 to 17 years
Impetigo	1 year and over
Infected insect bites	1 year and over
Shingles	18 years and over
Sinusitis	12 years and over
Sore throat	5 years and over
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections	Women 16-64 years

You can get treatment for these conditions by booking online, or walking into a participating pharmacy. GP surgeries, NHS 111 and providers of emergency care will also be able to direct patients to pharmacies, that offer the service, if contacted.

*Distance selling pharmacies will not complete consultations for acute otits media (earache).

You can read more about this service here.

Page last reviewed: 14 August 2026
Page created: 24 April 2020