NHS expands pharmacists' role to ease GP pressure with £340m investment

The government has announced plans to expand the role of pharmacists as part of wider NHS reforms. A £340 million investment will widen the Pharmacy First programme, allowing more patients to receive treatment for minor illnesses without visiting a GP. The Pharmacy First scheme currently lets pharmacists prescribe medicines for seven common conditions. These include sore throats, ear infections, sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, infected insect bites, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. Over 3.3 million consultations took place through the programme between March 2025 and February 2026.

From autumn 2026, five more conditions will be added to the list, though the specifics have not yet been confirmed. The government also aims for all newly trained pharmacists to qualify as independent prescribers by 2026. This shift is designed to ease pressure on GP practices and emergency departments. Patients are now being encouraged to visit pharmacists first when feeling unwell. Pharmacists can either recommend treatment or direct them to the right healthcare service. The move is part of a broader push to make better use of pharmacists’ skills and improve access to care closer to home.

The expansion of Pharmacy First will allow pharmacists to take on a greater role in treating minor illnesses. With more conditions covered and independent prescribing on the rise, the NHS expects to reduce strain on GPs and hospitals. The changes are set to take full effect from 2026.