Services Database Community Pharmacy Winter Ailments Service (Pilot) – Pharmacy First Scheme (Northern & Eastern Devon Area and South Devon & Torbay Area)

The purpose of the Community Pharmacy Winter Ailment Service is to ensure that patients can access self-care advice for the treatment of winter ailments and, where appropriate, can be supplied with over the counter medicines (as specified in the formulary), at NHS expense, to treat their winter ailment. This provides an alternative location from which patients can seek advice and treatment, rather than seeking treatment via a prescription from their GP or out of hours (OOH) provider, or via a walk-in centre or accident and emergency.

The pharmacy contractor has a duty to ensure that pharmacists and staff involved in the provision of the service have relevant knowledge and are appropriately trained in the operation of the service.

The pharmacy contractor has a duty to ensure that pharmacists and staff involved in the provision of the service are aware of and operate within local protocols.