Pharmacy First expansion 2026
New prescribing pathways are planned for participating pharmacies from autumn 2026, including help for migraines and acne.
By Compare Pharmacies
NHS announcement:
Published by Compare Pharmacies:
What is changing?
NHS England announced on 10 September 2026 that hundreds of pharmacies in England will begin offering additional prescribing services from autumn 2026. The aim is to make treatment for more everyday conditions available closer to home, without patients first needing a GP appointment.
The change extends Pharmacy First through a new prescribing service. It is an initial rollout at participating pharmacies, so the announcement does not mean every local pharmacy can already provide these treatments.
Which conditions are included?
The announcement identifies five new prescribing pathways. Its detailed notes describe the groups covered as follows:
- Low-frequency episodic migraine in adults.
- Seasonal allergic rhinitis, including hay fever, in children.
- Acute otitis externa, an infection of the outer ear, in adults.
- Mild to moderate acne in young people and adults.
- Mild skin and soft tissue infections and scabies.
How is this different from the existing service?
The established Pharmacy First service covers seven conditions with specific eligibility rules. These include sore throat, sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, infected insect bites, earache in children and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.
The new adult outer-ear infection pathway is separate from the existing middle-ear infection pathway for children. Having ear pain does not establish which pathway, if any, applies: the pharmacist needs to assess it.
Our Pharmacy First guide sets out the established conditions and age groups, alongside the announced additions.
Will every pharmacy offer them?
No. The new service depends on a pharmacy becoming a participating prescribing pharmacy with a pharmacist qualified to prescribe. A listing for the existing Pharmacy First service does not confirm access to the new pathways.
Welcoming the plans in the NHS announcement, Janet Morrison of Community Pharmacy England said the expanded offering would “give patients quicker access to advice and treatment for a wider range of ailments”.
For someone seeking help with acne or migraine, the useful next step is to ask specifically about that service. A general enquiry about Pharmacy First may only establish that the pharmacy offers the original pathways.
How can I check availability or arrange a visit?
Use our directory to find a nearby pharmacy, then contact it directly. Explain which service you are asking about and check whether it has started, whether your age group is covered and whether you should book or walk in.
The pharmacy can explain what information to bring and how the consultation works. Treatment follows an assessment; neither a directory listing nor an appointment guarantees a particular medicine.
This article explains the September 2026 announcement. Local opening times and service availability should be confirmed with the pharmacy before travelling.
Official source
NHS England: Pharmacy First expansion announcement, 10 September 2026
