Pharmacy First myth busting
This article tackles some of the misconceptions around who can provide Pharmacy First consultations and aims to bust myths to increase understanding of the service.
We have previously published a series of articles on myth busting covering a variety of aspects of Pharmacy First. All of these myths can be viewed on our Pharmacy First service – myth busting page.
Myth: Pharmacy technicians can provide the Pharmacy Contraception Service so this means they can also provide Pharmacy First consultations.
Wrong! Although there was a change in legislation in 2024 which permitted pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medicines under Patient Group Directions (PGDs) in the course of their professional practice, it does not mean they are automatically included in existing NHS community pharmacy services or PGDs.
Any updates to services first need to be considered in negotiations and, where agreed, the relevant PGDs and service specifications then need to be amended. In March 2025, the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework for 2024/25 and 2025/26 was agreed and as part of this, it was agreed that pharmacy technicians could provide the Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS); PGDs and the service specification for PCS have since been updated and published.
This is not the case with Pharmacy First and therefore only pharmacists can provide Pharmacy First consultations.
Myth: Trainee pharmacists can provide Pharmacy First consultations.
Wrong! Only a pharmacist can provide the service. However, with the consent of the patient, a trainee pharmacist could participate in the consultation to support their learning and development. For example, they could be involved in the discussion with the patient or examining them.
A pharmacist would need to be present in the consultation to provide support and direct clinical supervision of the trainee pharmacist. That pharmacist would be responsible for the provision of the service and would retain professional responsibility for the care of the patient, including where necessary, making the decision on the supply of any medicine as an emergency supply or under one of the PGDs for the clinical pathways.
