North Central London (NCL) residents are increasingly relying on their local pharmacies for a wider range of services, with high levels of trust reported across the region.

At a meeting of the North Central London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) on Friday, July 11, 2025, Kristina Petrou presented an update on community pharmacy services, highlighting their impact on patient care. The report showed that pharmacies are not only easily accessible but also enjoy a high degree of patient confidence.

Two women stand outside a pharmacy holding a sign supporting the local health team.
Two women stand outside a pharmacy holding a sign supporting the local health team.

Key findings from the Community Pharmacy Update include:

  • Accessibility: A significant 94.6% of NCL residents find pharmacies easy to access, making them the most accessible healthcare setting compared to GPs, where 37% reported difficulties.
  • Trust and Convenience: 85% of patients reported positive experiences with pharmacy staff and the convenience of services.
  • Vaccination Uptake: Pharmacies have played a crucial role in vaccination efforts, with 33% of NCL residents choosing pharmacies for flu vaccinations and 60% for Covid-19 vaccinations.
  • Pharmacy First Service: Almost all pharmacies in NCL (95%) now offer the Pharmacy First service, providing advice and NHS medicines for seven common health conditions without a GP appointment.
  • Self-Care Medicines Scheme (SCMS): The SCMS has been widely used, with 84% of the 10,998 patients in NCL reporting they would have visited their GP if the scheme wasn't available. The Self-Care Medicines Scheme provides eligible patients with free medicines for common ailments to those who meet the eligibility criteria. These criteria include:
    • Patients aged under 16 years who have at least one parent who would be eligible for this service
    • Patients who are receiving Universal Credit and whose income is at a level where they are eligible for free prescriptions.
    • Patients receiving any other benefits which give them eligibility for free prescriptions:
      • NHS Low Income Scheme and are in possession of a valid HC2 certificate.
      • Income Support (IS) or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
      • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
      • Tax Credit exemption certificate
      • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
    • Young people aged 16,17 or 18 years and
      • in full-time education, part-time education, or undertaking an accredited level 1 apprenticeship
    • Homeless and in possession of local authority 'Letter of homelessness'
  • NHS Blood Pressure Check Service: Free NHS blood pressure checks are available for individuals aged 40 and over, without needing an appointment. General practices can also refer patients to pharmacies for blood pressure readings or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Infographic showing statistics related to community pharmacy services in North Central London, including Pharmacy First consultations, hours saved by pharmacists, vaccination rates, contraception consultations, and blood pressure checks.
Infographic showing statistics related to community pharmacy services in North Central London, including Pharmacy First consultations, hours saved by pharmacists, vaccination rates, contraception consultations, and blood pressure checks.

Expanding Services:

Community pharmacies in NCL offer a range of services, including:

  • Essential services like dispensing medicines and repeat prescriptions.
  • Advanced services such as flu vaccinations and hypertension case-finding.
  • Enhanced services like the London Vaccination Service and Covid-19 vaccinations.
  • Locally commissioned services, including needle exchange, stop smoking support, and emergency hormonal contraception.

Future Developments:

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) is collaborating with Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) settings to refer eligible patients to the Pharmacy First service. Additionally, from September 2026, newly qualified pharmacists will be ready to work as independent prescribers.

A new flu walk-in finder tool is set to launch in October 2025, enabling patients to locate pharmacies offering walk-in flu jabs without an appointment.

Campaigns and Support:

The Your Local Health Team campaign has been successful in showcasing pharmacy services, with authentic, local content receiving thousands of views. The campaign highlights expert advice and schemes like Pharmacy First.

Collage of images from the 'Have you left care in the last seven years?' campaign, promoting free NHS prescriptions for eligible care leavers.
Collage of images from the 'Have you left care in the last seven years?' campaign, promoting free NHS prescriptions for eligible care leavers.

Eligible care leavers can also apply for a free Prescription Prepayment Certificate, ensuring access to prescribed medication without cost. The Self-Care Medicines Scheme (SCMS) also provides eligible patients with free medicines for common ailments.

Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, the report also noted that 25% of patients reported having ever delayed or skipped medications due to cost, and 15% had concerns about privacy during consultations. However, NHS regulations require community pharmacies to have consultation rooms that comply with privacy standards for delivering certain clinical services.