Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the role of self-care for minor and self-treatable conditions is reflected in the NHS 10 Year Plan to support the shift from sickness to prevention.

Support for self-care is an essential service that all pharmacies must provide, and can include the provision of advice, information, and where appropriate, the sale of over-the counter-medicines to patients, carers, and the general public to support their self-care for minor ailments. This gives patients easy access to advice from highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals in the community and relieves pressure in other areas of the National Health Service.

Under Pharmacy First, NHS 111, general practices, and accident and emergency departments can refer patients to see a pharmacist for advice on a minor illness, which may include the sale of over-the-counter medicines. They can also refer patients to one of the Pharmacy First seven clinical pathways, as part of which pharmacies can supply prescription-only medicines to patients. Patients can also walk into a pharmacy for treatment as part of the seven clinical pathways.

The 10-Year Health Plan describes a shared vision for the health and care system in 2035, drawing directly from the extensive engagement that has been undertaken with the public, patients, and staff. The plan includes how care models and pathways will need to change or evolve to better meet their needs, and the cultural and behavioural changes we want to see.