People in Surrey and Sussex to get quicker treatment for migraines, acne and other everyday conditions at local pharmacies | News centre

People across Surrey and Sussex will soon be able to get treatment for five additional common health conditions directly from participating community pharmacies, without needing to see their GP first. 

From this autumn, qualified pharmacist prescribers working in participating pharmacies will now be able to assess and provide treatment for acne, migraines, scabies, ear infections (otitis externa), seasonal allergic rhinitis and certain mild skin and soft tissue infections. 

The expansion builds on the success of the NHS Pharmacy First service, which already enables people to access treatment and advice for a range of common conditions through their local pharmacy.  

It will make it quicker and more convenient for patients to receive care closer to home, while helping to ensure GP appointments remain available for people with more complex health needs. 

The new service forms part of wider NHS preparations for winter and supports the ongoing shift towards delivering more care in community settings. By enabling pharmacists to assess and prescribe treatment for a wider range of common conditions, patients will be able to access expert advice and treatment more quickly, while helping reduce pressure on other NHS services. 

Pharmacies are already playing an increasingly important role in caring for communities across Surrey and Sussex. Local GPs and pharmacies have been working closely together to strengthen collaboration and improve access to services. 

Across Surrey and Sussex, more than 175,499 pharmacy first consultations took place between June 2025 and June 2026. 

Pharmacies are also helping identify and prevent serious health conditions through the NHS Blood Pressure Check Service, with nearly 150,000 blood pressure consultations being carried out during the same time period. 

Access to contraception services through community pharmacies has also expanded significantly. Oral contraception and emergency contraception, including the morning-after pill, are now available through most pharmacies without the need for a GP appointment. Pharmacies in Surrey and Sussex delivered over 37,400 contraception consultations between June 2025 and June 2026. 

As well as providing care and treatment for common conditions, many community pharmacies are offering free MenB vaccinations to people finishing Year 13 and students under the age of 25 who are starting university or residential further education accommodation for the first time this autumn.  

Community Pharmacies in Surrey and Sussex are among the top performers in the country for the delivery of the MenB vaccine, with more than 16,200 vaccinations since the programme launched in July.   

Linda Honey, Chief Pharmacist for NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board, said: 

Pharmacy First has already helped thousands of people across Surrey and Sussex access timely care in their local community, and it is fantastic to see the service continuing to grow.

Pharmacists are trusted healthcare professionals with the skills and expertise to assess, advise and treat a wide range of common conditions. By expanding the service, we can help more people get the right care quickly and conveniently from their local community pharmacies, without the need to see their GP every time.

Nationally, Pharmacy First has delivered more than 14 million consultations since its introduction in February 2024, including treatment and advice for sore throats, urinary tract infections, sinusitis, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo and shingles. Evidence suggests that, once fully rolled out, the addition of the new prescribing pathways could support a further two to three million consultations in community pharmacies each year. 

The expanded service will help people receive timely care closer to home, reducing the need for GP appointments and helping ensure NHS services are ready for winter pressures. 

Notes to editors