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Boots has delivered over a million Pharmacy First consultations since the scheme launched in England in January 2024, the chain announced this week. 

The multiple said urinary tract infections have topped the list of clinical pathway consultations, followed by sore throat, earache and insect bites.

Alex Roberts, director of healthcare services at Boots, commented: “This marks a significant moment in our commitment to supporting the NHS through the Pharmacy First service in England. 

“Customers are increasingly choosing to come to Boots as their primary destination for health advice and treatment.

“With no appointments necessary and availability at weekends and evenings the NHS Pharmacy First service provides accessible and convenient healthcare, offering an alternative to visiting a GP.

“We’re proud of our pharmacists and healthcare teams for their commitment to this service, supporting their customers and the NHS.”

In June, the Company Chemists’ Association – the trade organisation of which Boots is a member – said member companies had collectively hit the one million milestone by the end of May this year. 

NHS England published statistics in May revealing that over five million patients had used the service in the pharmacy sector as a whole.

Around 2.4 million patients had received a clinical pathway consultation, said NHSE, while 1.5 million had been referred in for a minor illness consultation and 1.4 million had had an urgent medicine supply consultation.