Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will take steps to support pharmacies seeking to provide Pharmacy First.

Pharmacy First is due to launch on 31 January 2024. As set out in the Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care, up to £645 million is available this and next financial year to fund Pharmacy First and an expansion of the existing blood pressure and contraception services.

A set-up fee will be paid to pharmacies that have signed up to recognise that pharmacy contractors must ensure that pharmacists and pharmacy staff providing the service are competent to do so, which may involve training. Pharmacies will need to familiarise themselves with the service specification, patient group directions, and patient pathways which have been published. Community Pharmacy England has developed a checklist for both pharmacy owners and pharmacists, including locums, to help them get ready for the service. Contractors are supported by additional resources provided by the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education, to ensure participating pharmacists are clinically competent to deliver these services safely.