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Local pharmaceutical committees (LPCs) and local medical committees (LMCs) have written to the health secretary Wes Streeting urging the government to strengthen Pharmacy First.
In a joint letter sent on 28 May 2025 and seen exclusively by The Pharmaceutical Journal, pharmacy and GP representatives from across London asked Streeting to “improve Pharmacy First for better NHS access and reduced pressure”.
In their letter, the LPCs and LMCs of South East London and South West London identified several factors they claim have led to a “restricted patient access Pharmacy First”, including a “reliance on GP or NHS 111 referrals”, a “narrow scope of treatable conditions”, “lack of integration with care pathways” and “low public awareness”.
However, having met regularly to “address cross-sector issues and develop strategies for improved patient care”, the authors of the letter suggested various ways to improve Pharmacy First.
Recommendations include expanding the service to include a broader range of minor ailments, allowing triage in settings such as GP practices or A&E, a means-tested supply scheme for over-the-counter drugs, enhanced integration with NHS Pathways, a national public awareness campaign and improved IT across community pharmacies.
Raj Matharu, co-author of the letter, chair of Community Pharmacy London and chief executive of Community Pharmacy South East London, told The Pharmaceutical Journal: “Community pharmacists are ready to lead as accessible, trusted providers of frontline care.
“With the right investment, seamless integration and a national push for public awareness, Pharmacy First can evolve into a truly standalone service — driven by patient needs, not referrals — that relieves pressure across the NHS and transforms how people access everyday healthcare.”
The letter added: “The current Pharmacy First model is unsustainable and fails to meet its objectives. Urgent reforms are needed to unlock its full potential, reduce pressure on general practice and appropriately support community pharmacies.
“We urge NHS England to collaborate with general practice and community pharmacy to create a fully integrated, patient-driven service. We welcome further discussions to ensure a system that benefits patients, healthcare professionals and the NHS.”
Pharmacy First in England — established in January 2024 — reached the milestone of 5 million consultations in May 2025.
NHS Business Services Authority data show that acute sore throat is the most common condition that patients sought help for, with more than 800,000 consultations in the scheme’s first 13 months.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care told The Pharmaceutical Journal: “Community pharmacy is at the heart of local healthcare, and we want it to play a bigger role as we shift care out of hospitals and into the community through our Plan for Change.
“We delivered the first real funding increase since 2014, investing £617m over two years, and are working to deliver more care for patients closer to their home, freeing up GP appointments, and catching ill-health earlier and preventing it in the first place.
“We welcome the feedback and recommendations made in the letter and will respond fully in due course.”
