12 Common Conditions Pharmacists Can Treat in England: What’s New in 2026
Visiting a pharmacist is becoming an increasingly important way to access NHS care in England. From autumn 2026, participating community pharmacies will be able to provide treatment for five additional common conditions, including migraines, acne, scabies and certain ear infections.
The expansion means more people may be able to receive advice, assessment and treatment locally without first making an appointment with their GP.
The changes are part of the NHS Pharmacy First programme, which was introduced to make treatment for common conditions faster and more convenient while helping reduce pressure on GP surgeries and emergency departments. NHS England says the expanded service could eventually result in millions of consultations being handled by community pharmacies each year.
What is Pharmacy First?
Pharmacy First is an NHS service that allows participating community pharmacists to assess and treat people for certain common health conditions.
The service has already been available for several conditions, including sore throats, sinusitis, impetigo, shingles, infected insect bites and some urinary tract infections.
The latest expansion introduces five additional prescribing pathways. However, not every pharmacy will immediately offer every service. The rollout is expected to begin with hundreds of pharmacies before expanding more widely.
NHS England says around four in five people in England live within a 20-minute walk of a community pharmacy, highlighting the potential convenience of the programme.
Five new conditions pharmacists can treat
The expanded Pharmacy First service will cover five additional areas.
1. Low-frequency migraines in adults
Adults experiencing low-frequency episodic migraines may be able to receive treatment through participating pharmacies.
Migraines can cause severe headaches and may also involve symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light or sound. Having access to a pharmacist could give eligible patients a quicker route to treatment.
The service is specifically designed for low-frequency episodic migraine, so people with unusual, severe or persistent headaches may require assessment elsewhere.
2. Seasonal allergic rhinitis in children
Children with seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, will also be included in the new service.
Hay fever can cause sneezing, an itchy or runny nose and watery eyes. A pharmacist can assess symptoms and advise parents or carers about appropriate treatment.
Because the service has specific eligibility requirements, parents should speak to the pharmacist rather than assuming every case can be treated under Pharmacy First.
3. Acute outer ear infections in adults
Adults with acute otitis externa, commonly described as an outer ear infection, will be another new group eligible for pharmacy treatment.
Ear problems can have several different causes, so pharmacists will assess symptoms before deciding whether treatment through the service is appropriate.
Anyone experiencing severe symptoms, significant hearing changes or other warning signs may need further medical assessment.
4. Mild to moderate acne
Acne treatment is another significant addition.
The new pathway covers mild to moderate acne in young people and adults. Pharmacists will be able to assess eligible patients and prescribe appropriate treatment where the service criteria are met.
Acne can have a substantial effect on confidence and quality of life, particularly among teenagers and young adults. Easier access to treatment could therefore make a practical difference to people who might otherwise wait for a GP appointment.
5. Mild skin and soft tissue infections and scabies
The fifth addition covers mild skin and soft tissue infections and scabies.
Scabies is caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin and can cause intense itching. Because it can spread between people, early recognition and appropriate treatment are important.
Pharmacists can assess whether symptoms fit the Pharmacy First pathway and provide treatment or direct patients to another healthcare service when necessary.
The seven conditions already covered
The five new pathways are being added to the existing Pharmacy First services.
The established clinical pathways include:
- Sore throat
- Sinusitis
- Impetigo
- Infected insect bites
- Shingles
- Acute middle-ear infection in children
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in eligible women
The eligibility rules vary by condition and age. For example, the existing UTI pathway applies to eligible women aged 16 to 64, while different age criteria apply to conditions such as sore throat, sinusitis and shingles.
This means Pharmacy First should not be viewed as a replacement for GP services. Instead, it provides another route into NHS care for specific conditions.
Why is the NHS expanding pharmacy services?
The expansion is designed to make treatment more accessible while reducing unnecessary demand elsewhere in the NHS.
NHS England reports that Pharmacy First has delivered 14 million consultations since its launch in February 2024. These include around two million consultations for acute sore throats and more than 1.7 million for urinary tract infections.
The NHS also expects the five new conditions to generate between two and three million pharmacy consultations each year once the service is fully established.
Community pharmacies are particularly useful because many are located on high streets and can often be accessed without the need for a traditional GP appointment.
What happens when you visit a pharmacy?
A pharmacist does more than simply hand over medicine.
During a Pharmacy First consultation, the pharmacist assesses the patient's symptoms and considers whether they meet the relevant clinical pathway. They also look for warning signs that could indicate a more serious problem.
If the condition is suitable, the pharmacist may prescribe treatment where they are qualified and the pharmacy is participating in the relevant service.
If the condition falls outside the pathway, the pharmacist can recommend another source of care.
NHS England guidance says Pharmacy First consultations include assessment, identification of red flags and safety-netting advice.
This is important because not every headache is a migraine, not every rash is scabies and not every earache is an uncomplicated infection.
Pharmacies offer more than minor illness treatment
The role of community pharmacists is also expanding beyond Pharmacy First.
Depending on the pharmacy and local services available, pharmacists can provide support with medicines, blood pressure checks, contraception, vaccinations and healthy lifestyle advice.
NHS England is also introducing pharmacy-based cholesterol checks at around 100 pharmacies this autumn for eligible adults aged 40 to 84.
This reflects a broader shift towards providing more healthcare within local communities.
Will every pharmacy offer the new treatments?
Not immediately.
The five new Pharmacy First prescribing pathways will initially be introduced at a smaller number of participating pharmacies. NHS England says hundreds of pharmacies are expected to offer the service initially, with a gradual expansion across the community pharmacy network.
Pharmacies also need appropriately qualified pharmacist prescribers to provide the new prescribing service.
Patients should therefore check with their local pharmacy before assuming a particular treatment is available.
What does this mean for patients?
For many people, the biggest benefit could simply be convenience.
Instead of waiting for a GP appointment for an eligible minor condition, a patient may be able to visit a participating pharmacy, speak with a qualified pharmacist and receive treatment during the visit.
The change could be particularly useful for people who work during GP opening hours, parents dealing with common childhood conditions or anyone who finds it difficult to secure a routine appointment.
At the same time, pharmacists remain part of the wider NHS healthcare system. Serious, unusual or worsening symptoms may still require assessment by a GP, NHS 111 or another medical service.
The future of community pharmacy
The expansion of Pharmacy First represents another step towards making community pharmacies a larger part of primary healthcare in England.
With five new conditions being added, eligible patients will have more opportunities to receive treatment close to home. The service could also help GP practices focus their time on patients who need more complex or ongoing medical care.
However, pharmacy organisations have raised concerns about financial and workload pressures facing community pharmacies. The success of the programme will therefore depend not only on patient demand but also on whether pharmacies have sufficient staffing, funding and resources to deliver the expanded service effectively.
For patients, the key message is simple: your local pharmacy may now be able to do considerably more than dispense prescriptions.
As Pharmacy First expands, pharmacists are becoming an increasingly important first point of contact for everyday healthcare.
Sources
- NHS England, “Patients to get quicker treatment for migraines, acne and 3 other everyday conditions at pharmacies”, published 10 September 2026.
- NHS England, Pharmacy First information and clinical pathway guidance.
- NHS England, Pharmacy Quality Scheme 2026/27: Pharmacy First clinical pathways consultations.
- NHS England, “High-street pharmacies to launch seven-minute cholesterol checks”, published 31 August 2026.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Pharmacy First eligibility, available treatments and participating pharmacies can vary. Always speak to a qualified pharmacist or other healthcare professional about your individual symptoms and treatment. If symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening or potentially life-threatening, seek urgent medical attention rather than relying on pharmacy treatment.