Report: North Somerset residents’ experience of the Pharmacy First service
67% of people we heard from said they were satisfied with the service they received from Pharmacy First. 60% said that they would definitely recommend it to family and friends.
The Pharmacy First service, launched in January 2024, allows community
pharmacies to provide care and treatment for 7 common conditions:
- Acute otitis media (in people aged 1 – 17)
- Impedigo (1 year +)
- Infected insect bites (1 year +)
- Shingles (18 years +)
- Sinusitis (12 years +)
- Sore throat (5 years +)
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (woman aged 16 - 64 years)
150 people shared their experiences of Pharmacy First with us through a survey. We also heard from local pharmacists about their experiences. Download a copy of our report below.
Downloads
Report: North Somerset residents’ experience of the Pharmacy First service
Managed to see someone very quickly who was extremely helpful
Headline statistics
- 62% of survey respondents knew about the services from their GP surgery
- 9% from the pharmacy
- 8% press promotion
- 83% of survey respondents were referred from their GP surgery
- 78% of people that were referred to Pharmacy First thought that the service that referred them clearly explained why they were doing this
- 65% of the survey respondents reported that they attended Pharmacy First with one of the 7 conditions named
- Over 90% of the survey respondents reported being seen on the same day
- 16% of the survey respondents said they were unhappy with the level of privacy
- 85% of our survey respondents said that they would rate the service overall at the level of between somewhat helpful or extremely helpful
Recommendations
- The Integrated Care Board to work to raise more awareness of the service through media promotion.
- The Integrated Care Board should ensure that more information and guidance is given around self or NHS 111 referral to avoid the large percentage of patient referrals from GP surgeries which in part defeats the objective of the service.
- GP surgeries and NHS 111 to ensure that all service users are given an explanation regarding why they have been referred to the pharmacy for treatment.
- Work to be undertaken across pharmacy providers to investigate why 1 in 6 people reported being unsatisfied with the service and find where improvements can be delivered.
- Pharmacy settings to ensure that 100% of consultations are private and cannot be overheard.
- Work to be undertaken by pharmacies and the Integrated Care Board to publicise good levels of customer satisfaction and encourage more use.
Have you used the Pharmacy First service? Please share your feedback with us. Click the pink 'Talk to us' button below to complete our online feedback form.
