Dr Sarah Henshaw

We've all been there. You wake up feeling unwell, try to get an appointment, and before you know it half the day has disappeared. When you're sick, the last thing you should be worrying about is how you're going to get the help you need. That's why we're expanding Pharmacy First. The idea is simple: Qualified pharmacists can assess patients, dispense medicines and prescribe treatment for a range of common conditions, helping people get care quickly and close to home. So you don’t have to go to hospital, and you don’t need to book a GP appointment. Just walk into your local pharmacy and get the treatment you need right there, right then. These services make a huge difference, especially for older people and those who are vulnerable. That's why we invested a further £340 million in community pharmacies, including to deliver Pharmacy First. Six million consultations have been delivered since the launch of the scheme. GPs and NHS 111 have referred three million people to their local pharmacy. And pharmacists have provided more than three million urgent medicine supplies. We’re making it possible for qualified prescribing pharmacists to treat five more common health conditions this autumn, like migraines and ear infections, so access to treatment is easier than ever. And what we’re announcing today will make it easier to see a GP for those who need it. I know how hard our NHS works, how much pressure staff are under and how tough it can be for people to access the care they need from my time as Health Secretary. And I know things have only got tougher in the last 15 years. As Mayor of Greater Manchester, I saw firsthand how important it is to put more firepower in the frontlines and give people more control over their own lives. Every place and every person matters. So we’ll make sure people can get the care they need, where they need it. That’s what this is all about. Faster treatment. More services. Better care for patients. And less pressure on hospitals and GPs. One less headache for people to worry about.