Thatcham Pharmacy in Burdwood Centre welcomes Government Pharmacy First scheme

A pharmacy in Thatcham has welcomed the introduction of the Pharmacy First scheme.

Thatcham Pharmacy, in the Burdwood Centre, is one of many pharmacies across the country rolling out the Government and NHS England scheme.

The initiative means patients will be able to get more prescription medication directly from pharmacists.

They’ll be able to get medicines like antibiotics and antivirals without a GP appointment or prescription.

Owner of Thatcham Pharmacy Guillermo Marin Saborido said they heard about the scheme in 2022 – which launched on January 31 this year.

And he says it has huge potential.

He said: “It is a massive thing where we can free up time for GPs and surgeries.

“The numbers are saying we will be able to free up up to 10 million appointments by next winter.

“That is a huge number which can only get bigger.

“But also we can now use our clinical knowledge to our own advantage and that is a massive change for us.

“It has got a huge potential.”

But will it put extra pressure on pharmacists in the UK?

“That’s the million dollar question,” Mr Saborido said.

“It depends on how tidy your house is and how well you manage the business.

“If you’ve not got a good, robust service and structure in place then yes it is extra work for you.”

“We’re fine here [Thatcham Pharmacy],” the former locum pharmacist said.

“We have gone through that pressure, we can work around each other.”

The new service adds to the existing consultation service and community pharmacies to complete episodes of care for seven common conditions.

These conditions are sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo (a bacterial skin infection), shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.

The scheme is still in its early stages with pharmacists up and down the country accessing training.