What is the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service?

The NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) offers patients same day minor illness consultations with a community pharmacist.

This new service can support general practice to ensure patients are seen by the right healthcare professional, in the right place, at the right time and will help make more GP appointments available for those with higher acuity needs.

How does the service work?

When a patient with minor illness symptoms contacts their GP practice requesting an appointment, the care navigator or receptionist will ask them a series of questions using a standard appropriate symptom checklist. If their symptoms are appropriate, the GP practice can refer them for a same-day consultation with a community pharmacist. With the patient’s consent, the practice team can send an electronic referral message to the pharmacy the patient has chosen, to support safe follow up and audit.

Following the referral, the pharmacist will contact the patient the same day by phone and either carry out the consultation by telephone, or arrange for the patient to attend the pharmacy, if appropriate. Some patients may be offered a video consultation by the pharmacist.

If the pharmacist feels the patient needs to be seen by a GP, they will return the referral back to the practice and an appointment will be arranged.