About the podcast series
Pharmacy First launched in England on 31 January 2024, allowing patients access to assessment and treatment for seven common clinical conditions from their community pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment, as part of a major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care.
In this podcast series pharmacy colleagues and expert clinical speakers discuss issues surrounding the new service in community pharmacy and try to debunk some of the clinical myths. Each episode focuses on one of the clinical conditions, with an additional episode dedicated to paediatrics.
Further information
NHS England Pharmacy First resources
CPPE NHS Pharmacy First: Clinical assessment and examination skills full-day workshop
Sinusitis
Kieran Reynolds talks to Professor Alastair Hay and Simran Sirpal about some of the clinical issues surrounding the sinusitis service under Pharmacy First. Discussion includes why intranasal steroids are first line in suspected bacterial sinusitis, treating patients who are breastfeeding, as well as how to administer nasal sprays.
Further information
How to use a nasal spray – The British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI)
Sore throat
Kieran Reynolds talks to Professor Paul Little and Simran Sirpal about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the sore throat service under Pharmacy First. Discussion includes the FeverPAIN score, information to provide patients who don’t require antibiotics, strep A antigen tests, and exclusions from the PGDs.
Further information
Healthier Together guidance (tonsillitis/sore throat) for pharmacists
Community Pharmacy England Pharmacy First FAQs
Otitis media
Kieran Reynolds talks to Professor Nick Francis and Rahul Sharda about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the otitis media service under Pharmacy First. Discussion includes information to provide patients who don’t require antibiotics, signposting to resources to help with otoscope examination and why the otitis media service is limited to individuals aged 1-17 years.
Further information
Healthier Together guidance (otitis media (earache) for pharmacists
Otoscope examination resources
CPPE: Pharmacy First: clinical assessment and examination skills full-day workshop
CPPE: NHS Pharmacy First: Otitis media e-learning
British Society of Audiology: How to perform ear examination to BSA recommended procedure
Uncomplicated urinary tract infection
Kieran Reynolds talks to Naomi Fleming and Reena Barai about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) service under Pharmacy First. Discussion includes measures taken to limit the impact of antimicrobial resistance from Pharmacy First and why urine dipsticks aren’t recommended in the uncomplicated UTI service in Pharmacy First.
Further information
Community Pharmacy England FAQs
TARGET Treating Your Infection – Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) leaflet
Children
Kieran Reynolds talks to Dr Alicia Demirjian and James Milner about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the new Pharmacy First service to children. Discussion includes practical hints and tips for examining children, how to manage parents’ expectations as well as reassure them about their child’s treatment.
Further information
Medicines for Children – how to give different types of medicines
Healthier Together guidance (otitis media (earache) for pharmacists
Shingles
Kieran Reynolds talks to Dr Stephanie Gallard and Liz Kramer about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the shingles service under Pharmacy First. Discussion includes the link between chickenpox and shingles, typical presentation of shingles, dermatomal distribution of shingles and how to respond to requests for video consultations.
Further information
NHS shingles resources including images of shingles
Primary Care Dermatology Society shingles resources
Black and Brown skin resources, including images on diverse skin tones
Shingles immunisation programme (UKHSA)
Impetigo
Kieran Reynolds talks to Dr Stephanie Gallard and Liz Kramer about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the impetigo service under Pharmacy First. Discussion includes how patients with impetigo usually present, differential diagnoses, advice to prevent the spread of impetigo and information about how what to when first line treatments are out of stock, including information about the SPS Medicines Supply Tool.
Further information
NHS information on how to stop impetigo spreading
Infected insect bites
Kieran Reynolds talks to Dr Stephanie Gallard and Liz Kramer about some of the clinical issues you may encounter when providing the infected insect bites/stings service under Pharmacy First. Discussion includes how to differentiate between infected and non-infected insect bites, advice to give patients to prevent insect bites from becoming infected and how patients with insect borne diseases may present.
Further information
Primary Care Dermatology Society Lyme disease resources
Update history
- Shingles, impetigo, and infected insect bites episodes published
- Links to BSA, CPPE and TARGET resources updated
- Link to Recommended Procedure Ear examination on BSA website updated
- Published