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Health · Thursday, September 10, 2026 · 6 sources

England to treat migraines and acne at pharmacies from autumn

NHS England will add five conditions to its Pharmacy First scheme from autumn, allowing patients to get on-the-spot treatment for migraines, acne, scabies, ear infections and allergic rhinitis without a GP appointment. The expansion aims to ease pressure on GPs and A&E, with up to three million extra consultations expected per year once fully rolled out, per NHS England.

Bottom line — NHS aims for up to 3 million pharmacy consultations for new conditions annually, per NHS England.

Go deeper (6)

  • The scheme already covers seven conditions including sore throat, sinusitis, and UTIs; since its January 2024 launch, it has delivered 14 million consultations, according to BBC.
  • Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the move would 'give people back precious time' and reduce the scramble for GP appointments, per the Manchester Evening News.
  • Henry Gregg of the National Pharmacy Association welcomed the expansion but warned pharmacies remain under 'significant financial pressures', calling for more government investment, according to the Mirror.
  • Scotland already allows pharmacies to treat 27 conditions, and one in three Scots used the service last year, the Mirror notes, citing the National Pharmacy Association.
  • NHS figures for 2024/25 show over 77,000 hospital admissions for ear infections and 47,500 for migraines, per the Mirror.
  • The rollout will begin with a few hundred pharmacies this autumn and expand to thousands, the BBC reports.

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Last generated: Sep 10, 7:27 AM UTC by wreetco wreetco

dstld. Your daily news summary designed to surface the news that matters from a European perspective. Curated by humans, summarized by AI - always with links back to the original reporting.

Links · Contact
Popular topics · WorldEuropeGamesAI
Last generated: Sep 10, 7:27 AM UTC by wreetco wreetco