Andy Burnham says "This is change families will feel" as NHS expands pharmacy service
“This is change families will feel in their day-to-day lives as we build a better Britain. Treating people closer to home means catching problems earlier, easing pressure on GPs and A&E, and giving people back precious time”
Reported September 17, 2026 by birminghammail.co.uk. Checked word for word against that report.
England’s health service has expanded a pharmacy-based program so patients can receive care without first booking a family-doctor visit, according to an announcement. Under the plan, participating pharmacies will assess and treat five common conditions: acne, migraines, scabies, ear infections and rhinitis. The change is part of the Pharmacy First service, and NHS England says it is meant to improve access and reduce demand on general practitioners and emergency departments, especially during winter. Andy Burnham was among officials who welcomed the expansion; Health Secretary Yvette Cooper and representatives of migraine and community-pharmacy groups also supported it. The development matters because it moves some routine treatment from doctors’ offices into community pharmacies, which officials hope will shorten waits and free clinical capacity.
- birminghammail.co.uk ↗︎17 SEP 2026