More than 10,000 patients each month are turning to pharmacists across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as a first point of care.
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight is promoting the value of the Pharmacy First scheme as part of its It Takes a Team campaign, which highlights the evolving role of community pharmacy teams in supporting patient care.
Neil Hardy, chief pharmacist at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: "Our pharmacists are highly trained professionals who are always on hand to offer expert advice and treatment when patients walk in.
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"It’s hugely rewarding to see how these services are making a real difference for patients and helping relieve pressure on the wider NHS."
Under the Pharmacy First scheme, patients can access treatment and prescription-only medicines without needing a GP appointment for conditions such as earache, impetigo, sinusitis, shingles, sore throat, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
Pharmacies also offer services including free blood pressure checks for those over 40, free contraceptives following a consultation, and support for patients referred by their GP or NHS 111.
Nearly all contractors (99 per cent) are signed up to the Pharmacy First scheme.
James Roach, director of primary care and local care at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: "These figures demonstrate the vital contribution community pharmacies are making to patient care and the sustainability of primary care services."
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