I have been contacted by many constituents asking for it to be made easier to see their GP and access the primary care they need quickly and easily.

It remains a Government priority that every patient who needs an appointment should be able to see their GP within two weeks and that every patient who has urgent needs should be able to see their GP on the same day.

To help deliver this aim the Government will make use of our local, and highly skilled, pharmacists. We all know that pharmacies are an integral part of our communities. They can often be the first stop for people with simple health issues.

To help cement the important role that pharmacies perform in our communities and to take pressure off GPs, the Government have launched the new Pharmacy First service. This service will make even better use of our highly trained community pharmacists.

Patients in England will be able to get treatment for seven common conditions at their high local pharmacy without needing to see a GP, as part of a major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care.

For the first time ever, community pharmacies in England will be able to offer NHS consultations and supply prescription-only medicines without a prescription from a GP for seven common conditions.

The seven conditions are earache, sinusitis, sore throat, impetigo, infected insect bite, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (under the age of 65).

These changes will help you access the primary care you need quickly and easily. It follows measures to expand the number of blood pressure checks undertaken in community pharmacies and expansion of the contraception service to include initial oral contraception consultations.

95% of community pharmacies have signed up to start offering Pharmacy First to their communities, including 227 in the Staffordshire and Stoke area.

These changes will mean patients will be able to walk into a pharmacy to access the service or they may be referred to a community pharmacy by their GP, NHS111 or Urgent and Emergency Care.

As always, if you require my help with anything at all, please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone on 01543 877142.