Pharmacy First Pathways (UK)

The Pharmacy First Pathways (UK) module is a practical, service-aligned course designed to prepare MPharm students to confidently deliver Pharmacy First consultations in line with current NHS pathways. This module focuses on real consultations, real decisions, and real documentation—not vague theory or recycled guideline summaries.

The module opens with a universal consultation toolkit that applies across all Pharmacy First services. Students will learn how to apply inclusion and exclusion criteria, identify red flags quickly, deliver clear self-care and safety-netting advice, and document consultations to an acceptable clinical and medico-legal standard. Emphasis is placed on clarity, efficiency, and avoiding the common mistakes that lead to unsafe decisions or inappropriate referrals.

Each pathway is then explored individually, including uncomplicated UTI, acute sore throat, sinusitis, shingles, acute otitis media, impetigo, and infected insect bites. For each condition, students are guided through what to ask, what to rule out, when to treat, when not to treat, and when to refer, with decision-making explicitly aligned to Pharmacy First service criteria.

Pharmacological management is covered alongside counselling, recurrence triggers, infection control advice, and antimicrobial stewardship principles—particularly how to explain why antibiotics are not indicated in a way patients actually accept.

Original case-based workshops are embedded throughout the module, mirroring the ambiguity and pressure of real Pharmacy First consultations. These scenarios are designed to develop confidence, consistency, and clinical judgement rather than checklist-based answering.

This module is highly relevant for OSCEs, placements, and early practice, giving students exposure to a nationally commissioned service they are increasingly expected to understand before qualifying.