A Scottish health board is funding a local expansion of the Pharmacy First service that will enable pharmacists to prescribe antibiotics for children with acute sore throats and skin infections.

The locally negotiated update to Pharmacy First Scotland will allow pharmacists to prescribe penicillin V for children over 5 with acute sore throat and flucloxacillin for young people aged 17 years and under. 

P3pharmacy understands that at present there are no plans to implement the service expansion across the wider community pharmacy network in Scotland.  

Laura Byrne, director of pharmacy at NHS Forth Valley, said: “The expansion of the Pharmacy First programme increases the range of treatments available for minor illnesses, making them even more accessible for people in Forth Valley.

“It plays an important part in helping people access the right care in the right place at the right time, without having to go to their GP practice or A&E department for non-urgent treatment. 

“In the event that the pharmacist feels the condition needs further investigation or specialist care they will refer patients to the appropriate service, which could be a GP, optometrist, dentist or other NHS service.”

Pharmacy First Scotland launched in July 2020, and between April 2021 and March 2022 was accessed by 23 per cent of the Scottish population. In addition to the core service, which is PGD-led and builds on a previous minor ailments scheme in Scotland, Pharmacy First Plus offers an independent prescribing-led service encompassing assessment and treatment of acute common clinical conditions that are beyond the scope of the standard service.