Increasing numbers of patients are visiting pharmacies for faster access to healthcare as part of an expanding scheme.
The Pharmacy First scheme, designed to improve access to care for minor conditions and reduce pressure on GP services, has seen usage double in the past year, with more than 10,000 patients a month in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight now using pharmacies as a first point of contact.
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James Roach, director of primary care and local care at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: "Community pharmacies are the most accessible part of our NHS, with over 10,000 patients each month using the Pharmacy First scheme as their first point of contact for advice and treatment.
"This approach not only ensures convenient access to care but also helps free up GP time for more complex health needs."
The scheme allows trained pharmacists to assess and treat a range of common conditions, and supply prescription-only medicines when appropriate, without the need for a GP appointment.
Available services include treatment for earache, sore throat, sinusitis, shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections, among others.
Pharmacists can also identify when a patient needs to be referred to a GP or another healthcare professional.
Pharmacies also continue to offer routine services such as vaccinations and blood pressure checks.
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