A brand new digital platform has been launched, permitting sufferers to ebook free on-line Pharmacy First consultations with group pharmacists.
My Native Surgical procedure permits registered pharmacists to allocate obtainable time to appointment slots and matches them with sufferers who’re on the lookout for on-line Pharmacy First consultations.
If throughout the session, the pharmacist determines a prescription is required, they are going to dispense the medicine and have it delivered to the affected person by way of an categorical 24-hour postal service.
The web service covers six of the seven widespread situations included within the Pharmacy First scheme, which was launched by the Division of Well being and Social Care and NHS England on 31 January 2024.
My Native Surgical procedure gives consultations for impetigo, contaminated insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat and uncomplicated urinary hint infections, however doesn’t embody ear ache.
In a press launch, Darren Lingaloo, co-founder and chief pharmacist at My Native Surgical procedure, mentioned: “The evolving position of pharmacists is lengthy overdue and has the potential to save lots of thousands and thousands of GP appointments yearly.
“Many pharmacies are actually investing of their consulting amenities and employees to ship extra medical companies to sufferers of their group and assist the NHS Pharmacy First initiative.
“These with further medical capability may also now have the ability to present on-line consultations to sufferers throughout England by way of My Native Surgical procedure.”
The Village Pharmacy, which operates pharmacies in Hampshire and Kent, was the primary to ship on-line consultations by way of the platform, as a part of a delicate launch in March 2024.
Lingaroo mentioned there may be “big digital demand” for Pharmacy First appointments, and the service is now being rolled-out extra extensively.
“My Native Surgical procedure reached full capability throughout our preliminary launch section, and we are actually making ready to scale,” he added.
The service additionally affords entry to the NHS contraceptive service and personal consultations with well being professionals.
Dr Adam Kirk, chief medical advisor at My Native Surgical procedure, mentioned that the service is “designed to simplify entry to healthcare”.
“For the affected person, it delivers a speedy service to deal with widespread situations and for group pharmacists, it’s offering the chance to make use of their medical abilities to assist the rising demand for on-line consultations,” he mentioned.
In April 2024, on-line pharmacy service Pharmacy2U introduced the launch of a prescription order-tracking service.