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NHS Providers responds to new analysis of patients going to A&E with minor conditions

28 June 2025

Daniel Elkeles responds to National Pharmacy Association analysis of patients going to A&E with minor conditions

  • Delivery and performance

  • Community

Responding to analysis of NHS England data by the National Pharmacy Association of patients attending A&E with issues that could have been treated in a community pharmacy, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Daniel Elkeles said: 

“Patients often resort to A&E when they can’t access timely healthcare elsewhere, piling pressure on already overstretched services.

“Minor ailments can and should be managed through more appropriate services including Pharmacy First, which enables patients to get prescription medications - including antibiotics - for certain common conditions directly from a pharmacist, and NHS 111 online. 

“This could lighten the load on emergency departments, whose priority is always to deliver urgent care to the most seriously ill patients.”