Recommendation 26

Under the Pharmacy First scheme introduced in early 2024, patients can now consult pharmacists directly for several minor illnesses and conditions that previously required a GP visit and the pharmacist can prescribe medicines if necessary. NHS England commented that early evidence from Pharmacy First was that GPs were following the relevant protocols, and it had not seen any increase in the use of antibiotics. However, we have also seen a report of a March 2025 study claiming that patients with a sore throat are twice as likely to be given antibiotics by a pharmacist in England than they are in Wales. An author of the research study said that one possible reason for the difference might be the use of diagnostic tests for patients in Wales.66 64 AR0004, AR0005, AR0008, AR0009, AR0010, AR0014, AR0015, AR0017, AR0024 65 Q 40 66 Q 40; Pharmacies in England may be twice as likely to supply antibiotics for sore throat than in Wales, 12 March 2025 16 2 Reducing the threat of AMR in the future Getting the basics right