Last year, the Prime Minister made cutting NHS waiting lists one of his top priorities for the country – and in Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages cutting waiting lists and improving local healthcare is one of my top priorities as well.
We are making good progress – eliminating the longest waits of over two years and cutting 18 month waits by over 90 per cent from the peak in September 2021. We have met our manifesto pledge to deliver 50 million additional GP appointments since 2019 and recruited record numbers of doctors and nurses, but there is much more to do.
That is why the Government has launched its Pharmacy First scheme.
Pharmacy First will enable pharmacists to make better use of their medical skills and training, meaning that patients can receive treatment for seven common health conditions from their local pharmacy without the need to visit a GP or have a prescription.
From 31st January pharmacists will be able to see patients with seven conditions: sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. Following the assessment, the pharmacist can then supply the prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals, to treat the problem.
The new Pharmacy First approach will not only speed up access to essential care for patients, but also help to take pressure off local GP services by directing people to more appropriate places to be treated. Backed by up to £645 million, 95 per cent of pharmacies in England have opted-in so far, meaning that patients will be able to receive care more quickly without the need to wait for a GP appointment. I am delighted that 266 pharmacies in Hertfordshire and West Essex have already signed up.
Improving access to primary care is an essential part of our long-term plan to reduce pressure on the NHS and cut waiting lists. By sticking to the plan, we are delivering on our pledge to cut NHS waiting lists, delivering more care in the community, and ensuring that patients receive the care they need, when they need it.
