Low awareness holds back Pharmacy First uptake

Public awareness remains the single biggest obstacle to wider use of Pharmacy First, according to research by Healthwatch. The findings point to a gap between what the service offers and how many people actually know it exists — a problem that falls disproportionately on younger age groups.

What happened

Healthwatch surveyed members of the public about Pharmacy First and found that awareness was the top barrier to uptake. Younger people were notably less likely to know the service existed compared to older demographics. The research adds to a growing picture of a service that, despite being available in community pharmacies, isn't reaching the patients it was designed to help.

Why it matters

Pharmacy First was introduced to take pressure off GP surgeries by directing patients with certain minor conditions to their community pharmacist instead. But a service only delivers on that promise if patients know to use it. When a significant portion of the public — and particularly younger people — haven't heard of it, footfall doesn't follow.

For community pharmacies, that's a commercial and clinical problem at the same time. Teams are trained, consultations rooms are set up, and pharmacists are ready. Yet the patients who could benefit are booking GP appointments or heading to urgent care instead, often unaware that a quicker route exists.

The age gap in awareness is worth paying attention to. Younger adults are generally considered digitally connected and easier to reach through online channels. If they're still not picking up on Pharmacy First, the communication approach needs rethinking — not just the volume of messaging.

GPhC exam relevance

Pharmacy First sits within the broader push to extend the clinical role of community pharmacists, which the GPhC has reflected in its standards around professional responsibility and patient-centred care. In the assessment, you may encounter scenarios where a patient presents with a condition that falls within a community pharmacy service. Knowing that services like Pharmacy First exist — and understanding the pharmacist's role in directing patients appropriately — is part of demonstrating that you can work across the wider healthcare system, not just the dispensing counter.

The awareness gap identified here also connects to a recurring theme in pharmacy law and ethics: the responsibility pharmacists have to make patients aware of services available to them. If a patient doesn't know Pharmacy First is an option, the pharmacist is often the most effective person to tell them.

What's next

Healthwatch's findings put pressure on NHS commissioners and pharmacy bodies to look harder at how Pharmacy First is promoted, particularly to younger people. Watch for any NHS England or PSNC communications updating guidance on how pharmacies should be signposting the service.

If you're on placement or working in a community pharmacy, take note of how the team handles patient education around available services. It's a practical area where pre-registration trainees can make a real contribution — and where your GPhC portfolio can reflect genuine patient-facing work.

Source: Chemist+Druggist — https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/clinical/awareness-biggest-barrier-to-wider-pharmacy-first-use-H3L2R4PJC5H4NLF7FSES3BCBQA/