Patients in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire West can now receive treatments for seven common conditions at their high street pharmacy without needing to see a GP.

244 out of 251 community pharmacies in the area will roll out the pioneering scheme, aimed at making it easier and more convenient for the public to access healthcare.

Highly trained pharmacists will be able to assess and treat sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women under 65 without requiring an appointment or a prescription.

This process involves people thinking 'Pharmacy First', which makes it simpler and quicker to obtain the necessary help without the need to contact a GP surgery.

The service forms part of a broader expansion of healthcare that seeks to empower pharmacists to use more of their skills, providing people with greater choice regarding their health treatment.

Ian Dunphy, pharmacist at Hanborough Pharmacy, Oxfordshire, said: "We're really pleased to be a part of this new expansion of what community pharmacy can offer.

"It builds on the work we're already doing to help patients with advice and treatment for a wide range of minor illnesses, as well as offering things like vaccinations and support to quit smoking.

"You can now pop into many high street pharmacies to get a consultation on seven common conditions including ear-ache, a sore throat or sinusitis at a convenient time, with many pharmacies open late into the evening – a great help for all of us leading increasingly busy lives."

Robert Bradshaw, the chair of the Thames Valley Local Pharmacy Committee, added: "This new service will give the public more choice about where and when they can access help with minor health conditions.

"However, it is important to ensure that pharmacies are fully supported as patient behaviour changes and more people visit pharmacies as their first port of call for their common healthcare needs."

The expansion builds on the successful roll-out of the contraceptive pill service in December.

113 pharmacies in the area now offer women a chance to get a supply of oral contraception over the counter without requiring a previous visit to their GP.

In the future, the NHS predicts approximately half a million women per year will receive their contraception from their high street pharmacist.

This enhancement of pharmacy services aims to free up 10 million GP appointments annually, nationwide.

It forms part of the NHS and Government’s primary care access recovery plan, designed to make accessing healthcare easier for millions of people.