England to let pharmacists prescribe five extra conditions

Pharmacists in England will be able to prescribe medicines for five additional common conditions starting in autumn 2026, as part of a government plan to expand frontline healthcare services in local communities. The initiative, backed by a £340 million investment, builds upon the existing Pharmacy First scheme, which already allows patients to obtain treatment for seven minor ailments without a general practitioner referral.

The expansion aims to reduce pressure on GP surgeries and hospital services by making greater use of pharmacists' clinical skills. Under the new framework, pharmacists who hold an independent prescribing qualification will be able to assess patients and prescribe medicines on the spot for the new conditions, which have not yet been specified. This follows a trend of increasing reliance on community pharmacies; officials reported that more than 3.3 million consultations were conducted under Pharmacy First between March 2025 and February 2026.

Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said the government is making the most of highly skilled pharmacists to boost access to services. He stated that independent prescribing will ease pressures on GPs, cut unnecessary...