People across the South will soon be able to receive treatment for a wider range of common health conditions directly from participating community pharmacies.
From this autumn, qualified pharmacist prescribers will be able to assess and provide treatment for acne, migraines, scabies, ear infections, seasonal allergic rhinitis and some mild skin and soft tissue infections.
The expansion builds on the NHS Pharmacy First service, which already allows people to access advice and treatment for a number of everyday conditions without needing to see a GP first.
NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board says the move is intended to make care quicker and more convenient for patients, while helping keep GP appointments available for people with more complex health needs.
The expanded service also forms part of wider NHS preparations for winter and a broader shift towards providing more care in community settings.
Between June 2025 and June 2026, more than 175,499 Pharmacy First consultations were carried out across Surrey and Sussex.
During the same period, nearly 150,000 blood pressure consultations took place through community pharmacies.
Pharmacy contraception services have also expanded, with more than 37,400 consultations delivered across Surrey and Sussex between June 2025 and June 2026.
Many pharmacies are also offering free MenB vaccinations to young people finishing Year 13 and students under 25 who are starting university or residential further education accommodation for the first time this autumn.
More than 16,200 MenB vaccinations have been delivered in Surrey and Sussex 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 it was introduced in February 2024.
Existing pathways include treatment and advice for sore throats, urinary tract infections, sinusitis, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo and shingles.
The NHS says the additional prescribing pathways could eventually support a further two to three million community pharmacy consultations each year.
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