Migraines, Acne, and More: Getting Treatment at Your Chemist in England
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People Can Now Get On-the-Spot Treatment for 12 Common Conditions at English Pharmacies
By Philippa Roxby | Published 5 minutes ago
Starting this autumn, people in England will be able to visit their local chemist for prompt treatment for 12 common conditions, without first seeing a GP. Pharmacists already prescribe medication for seven conditions, including sore throat, earache, and sinusitis. Five more—migraines, acne, scabies, ear infections, and badly blocked noses—are now added to this list.
NHS England states this move aims to reduce pressure on busy GPs and A&E departments while ensuring quick access to treatment for everyday conditions. With hot summer temperatures and record-breaking A&E attendance in recent months, the NHS seeks to simplify access to care.
According to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, people are tired of waiting for routine appointments and want convenient local support. He announced that starting this autumn:
"You’ll be able to walk into your local pharmacy and get treated on the spot" for these five additional conditions.
These new conditions include:
- Low frequency migraines in adults
- Hay fever or allergic rhinitis in children
- Ear infections in adults
- Mild to moderate acne in young people and adults
- Mild skin infections and scabies
In addition to these, the seven existing conditions pharmacists can treat are:
- Sore throat
- Sinusitis
- Earache
- Insect bites
- Impetigo
- Shingles
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Initially, a small number of chemists will offer treatment for the new conditions. NHS England plans a gradual rollout, eventually making this service available at thousands of community pharmacies nationwide.
Community pharmacies already provide various services, including support with healthy eating, exercise, smoking cessation, blood pressure monitoring, contraception, flu and COVID vaccinations.
The Migraine Trust celebrated the news, calling for more migraine care in pharmacies. Rob Music, their Chief Executive, praised this as a "wonderful opportunity for a faster and improved care pathway."
However, pharmacy bodies have raised concerns that government funding does not cover the additional workload. Henry Gregg, Chief Executive of the National Pharmacy Association, stated:
"This shows why the government should go much further and invest in our pharmacy network that has the power to transform people’s experience of everyday health issues."
The Pharmacy First scheme, launched in England in 2024, has provided over 14 million consultations, including two million for sore throats and 1.7 million for UTIs. People can access their local pharmacy through NHS111, by referring from their GP, or directly. Scotland has a similar successful program.
