The Welsh public are being urged to visit their local pharmacies
for free advice and treatment for a wide range of illnesses, as
new figures reveal more than 400,000 people used the common
ailments service in the last 12 months.
Visiting your pharmacy gives you convenient access to a
healthcare professional, often without an appointment, and helps
to free up GP appointments for people with more complex or urgent
health issues.
The common ailments service, available in 99% of pharmacies
throughout Wales, provides access to free, confidential advice
and treatments for 28 common illnesses including sore throats and
urinary tract infections. Last year, more than 400,000 people
used the service and it has helped almost 1.25m since it was
launched in 2013.
There are also currently around 220 pharmacies delivering the
pharmacist independent prescribing service – equivalent to a
third of all pharmacies in Wales. This enables pharmacists to
treat a range of conditions such as ear, skin and respiratory
infections, sinusitis and migraine.
Ninety-five per cent of people said they would have otherwise
visited their GP, or other healthcare provider, had they not been
able to access this service from their pharmacy.
Up to 100 community pharmacists a year are already undertaking
prescribing training and from 2026, all newly-qualified
pharmacists will be prescribers at the point of registration.
GPs, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, allied health
professionals and social care workers in primary and community
care are seeing more people than ever and continually extending
their range of services.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care will highlight the reforms to
primary care to provide more care closer to home in a statement
to the Senedd on Tuesday:
- GPs receive around 100,000 calls and handle 68,000
appointments per working day.
- Optometrists hold more than 2,000 consultations a month
- Since April 2022, more than 420,000 new patients have
received dental treatment.
- District nurses see around 31,000 people every month –
equivalent to 1% of Wales' population.
Health Secretary said:
“We know there is very high demand for GP services in Wales, with
around 1.6 million people contacting their practice each
month.
“For most common health concerns, your local pharmacy is the best
option, providing free and easy access to treatment.
“We are working with the NHS to provide more care in the
community, closer to people's homes and to make it easier for
people to choose the right service for their health needs.”
Gwawr Davies-Jones, a pharmacist at High Street Pharmacy,
Barry, said:
“Since the new pharmacy contract was implemented in 2022, our
role has changed considerably.
“Instead of being in the dispensary, we are now in the
consultation room for the most part of the day, offering clinical
services. On average we undertake more than 20 consultations
every day, ranging from providing contraception to emergency
medicine supplies.
“The demand for advice on common conditions in the community is
great, providing pharmacists with an opportunity to share advice
and treatment with their patients, including prescribing
antibiotics and other prescription-only medicines where
indicated, without the need to see a GP, freeing up much needed
appointments for people with more complex conditions.
“We feel we offer an invaluable service to our community.
The services we offer alleviate pressures on the NHS,
providing great satisfaction to pharmacists knowing that they are
doing their bit.”
Pharmacies provide treatment for 28 common illnesses as part of
the common ailments service. Many pharmacies also offer access to
emergency contraception as well as annual flu vaccinations and
regular contraception services.
The Welsh Government has backed this service expansion with
substantial funding, increasing its investment by 24% since
2016-17, with an additional £9.9m this year.
Notes to editors
For more information on the Common Ailments Service visit
Common Ailments
Service
