February 7, 2025

MOIC, as part of an annual business plan with the Department of Health NI,  work with the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) to evaluate new services that are being developed in primary care. As part of this work MOIC have led on the evaluation of a number of Pharmacy First Service’s.

A Pharmacy First Service is a service whereby patients are encouraged to consult with their community pharmacist first rather than their GP, for a list of common conditions. The aim of a Pharmacy First Service is to move activity, including consultations and advice for common conditions, from GP practices to community pharmacies.

 

Pilot Service for Treatment of Shingles – Ongoing

• In January 2025, the SPPG commenced a pilot of a community pharmacy first service for the treatment of shingles. This pilot service is currently ongoing and MOIC will commence the evaluation in late 2025.

 

Emergency hormonal contraception – June 2025

• SPPG commissioned a service for the provision of emergency hormonal contraception through community pharmacy. MOIC was asked to conduct a full evaluation of the service to include an analysis of a comprehensive sample of consultation forms for the service (10% sample of consultations across NI). The report also includes feedback from service users which has been collected on an ongoing basis from commencement of the service in October 2022.
• The evaluation report is currently with SPPG and CPNI for final review.

 

Pilot Sore Throat Service – August 2024

• The SPPG ran a pilot for the Pharmacy First Service for the management of sore throats between November 2023 and 30^th March 2024. Under this pilot, patients presenting with a sore throat underwent a consultation with the community pharmacist. Depending on the assessment and the application of the FeverPain criteria, a rapid antigen detection was used. This test indicates if the symptoms are caused by Group A beta-haemolytic Streptococcus which is the most common bacterial cause of sore throat. If indicated, the community pharmacist could supply antibiotics.
• MOIC completed the evaluation of this pilot. A final report which analysed 6768 consultations across 40 pharmacies was presented to SPPG in August 2024. Overall the feedback was very positive, with the stakeholders involved reporting that the service should be considered for roll out to all community pharmacies, as it can help to ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics, while absorbing workload that would otherwise end up in other healthcare settings. Following this pilot, this service was available in most community pharmacies in Northern Ireland in winter 2024/25.
• Link to final evaluation report – MOIC_Pharmacy-First_SoreThroat_FinalReport

 

Pilot service for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in women aged 16-64 years – September 2022

• Between July and December 2021, 62 community pharmacies in Northern Ireland participated in a pilot service of Pharmacy First for Uncomplicated UTIs in women aged 16 to 64 years. Under this service, eligible patients visited their community pharmacy, rather than their GP practice, for the treatment of UTI symptoms. If indicated, antibiotics were prescribed by an independent prescribing pharmacist or supplied under a patient group direction.
• MOIC led on the evaluation of the pilot and produced a report which analysed 1065 consultation forms and feedback from service user, community pharmacists and GPs.
• Link to final evaluation report – MOIC_Pharmacy-First_UTI_FinalReport