STORY
The Government has announced a £340 million community pharmacy deal intended to give patients faster access to care on the high street. Ministers said the agreement would allow more services and treatments to be delivered through pharmacies, as part of wider plans to move more NHS care out of hospitals and into neighbourhood settings.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the programme would build on Pharmacy First, which already allows patients to receive advice, over-the-counter treatments and some prescription-only medicines for a range of minor conditions. The Government said this would help patients with conditions affecting the ears, nose, throat, eyes and skin, while also reducing pressure on GP appointments.
Independent prescribing will be rolled out nationally from autumn 2026. Stephen Kinnock, the health minister, said community pharmacies had an important role in delivering the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, with the announcement coming as ministers continue to argue that NHS reform must shift more treatment closer to people’s homes.