A scheme which authorises specially trained pharmacists to prescribe NHS medicines directly to patients for a range of illnesses, without them needing to see their GP, is to be extended at five Lincolnshire pharmacies for a further 12 months.
Patients can continue to receive treatment for a range of illnesses
This enables patients to continue accessing NHS treatment for same-day illnesses, including chest infections, ear infections for adults and children aged one year and over, oral thrush, and skin infections to name a few. It also allows Independent Prescribing Pharmacists to provide appropriate alternative medications when a prescribed medicine is unavailable due to stock shortages.
The Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Programme is available at:
- Alford Pharmacy, 111 West Street, Alford, LN13 9DJ
- Boots Pharmacy, 7 Silver Street, Coningsby, LN4 4SG
- Clover House Pharmacy, Boston Road, Sleaford NG34 7HD
- East Midlands Pharmacy, 15 Sincil Street, Lincoln, LN5 7ET
- Medicines Plus Pharmacy, 41 High Street, Navenby, LN5 0DZ
The Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Programme started out as a national pilot funded by NHS England, which ended on 31st December last year.
Pilot extended until 2027
However, due to the success of the scheme and to help alleviate winter pressures, NHS Lincolnshire ICB helped fund an extension up to 31st March this year. And now the pilot has been extended again, until 31 March 2027, as part of a regional scheme at pharmacies across Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.
The new funding for 2026/27 covers 30 NHS consultations per month at each pharmacy and will offer more than 1,000 appointments for patients in Lincolnshire who previously would have needed to see a GP.
Providing greater access to primary care on the high street
Dr Dave Briggs, Executive Director of Outcomes, NHS Derby and Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICBs, said: “Community Pharmacy is playing an increasingly important role as a front door to the NHS, utilising the skills of our brilliant pharmacists to deliver patient-centred care much more effectively.
“The ability to prescribe for additional conditions, in addition to the hugely successful Pharmacy First service available at nearly all our community pharmacies, makes treatment more accessible to the public and allows GPs more time to focus on patients with more serious, persistent illnesses.
“Providing greater access to primary care in convenient high street locations is central to the vision of the NHS 10-year plan’s aim to move care from hospital to community.”
To date, participating Lincolnshire pharmacies provided more than 2,800 Independent Prescriber consultations to patients who otherwise would have visited their GP or urgent care facilities. With continuous positive feedback from reviews being received highlighting how important this service is to local communities.
The Independent Prescribing in Community Pharmacy Programme is in addition to the Pharmacy First scheme, which is widely available at community pharmacies across Lincolnshire.
Pharmacy First can provide NHS treatments for seven common conditions without needing to see a GP (some age restrictions apply). For details about pharmacy first and the wide range of NHS services available from pharmacies see Community Pharmacy :: Lincolnshire Prescribing and Clinical Effectiveness.