Cities of London & Westminster MP, Nickie Aiken, met with Husainali Alidina at Star Pharmacy, Strutton Ground to hear more about what Pharmacy First means to them.
Star Pharmacy is one of over 1,500 pharmacies across London to sign up to the Pharmacy First scheme, meaning you can get treatment for seven common conditions without a GP prescription.
Pharmacists do an incredible job and are highly trained. With Pharmacy First, they can now treat more conditions without patients needing to see a GP or have a prescription first, helping people receive treatment sooner and freeing up vital GP appointments in our local surgeries.
Look out for the Pharmacy First sticker in your local pharmacy and find out more here.
Championing the launch, Nickie commented,
"I'm here with Husainali in the Star Pharmacy in Strutton Ground in the heart of Westminster. They are part of the Pharmacy First scheme that the Government has launched this week, which allows people to come into any pharmacy with the sticker on the door so they can get help and treatment for up to seven conditions.
Husainali, Superintendent Pharmacist at Star Pharmacy, said,
"Pharmacy has always been willing and can do more to help the NHS to reduce the burden in other sectors like the GP, A&E, and urgent care centres. But we just need support from the NHS and from the Government to be able to do more. We're very accessible, pharmacies are in pretty much most areas. There are thousands of them. It's not common to be able to walk into a place and speak to a highly trained healthcare professional straight away. We're accessible seven days a week and this is a great opportunity for pharmacies to showcase what they can do more.
Nickie added,
"It's brilliant. More than 1,500 pharmacies across London have signed up for the scheme already, so look out for the Pharmacy First sticker. And if you've got a sore throat, sinusitis or whatever you've got of the seven conditions, pop into your local pharmacy, they will be able to get you the help and it will save millions of GP appointments and A&E visits. This is a great scheme."
