Get a quick, face-to-face appointment with a pharmacist during coronavirus pandemic

A new NHS scheme has seen almost 40,000 Londoners get a quick, safe, face-to-face appointment with a local pharmacist, helping them to get care safely and faster during the coronavirus pandemic.

The NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) has helped 37,200 people across the capital since being set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, published in January 2019, as one of a number of improvements to the popular 111 service to enable the public to access the right help in the right place.

Available through the fast and free NHS 111 telephone or online service, those who would benefit are booked in for a face-to-face consultation with a pharmacist for a range of minor illnesses or to get an urgent supply of a previously prescribed medicine.

With the NHS encouraging more people to come forward for care who might have held back due to Covid-19 concerns, local pharmacies are gearing up to provide an increasing number of consultations safely, so that all those who would benefit can be referred.