Pharmacy consultations reach record levels in Wales
Pharmacies across Wales carried out more than 600,000 clinical consultations for a range of common health conditions in the last year.
New community pharmacy service statistics show growing demand for care delivered through local pharmacies.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, more than 462,000 consultations took place through the common ailments service, the highest number recorded since the scheme began.
Almost 346,000 people used the service, which provides free advice and treatment for 27 common conditions and is available in 99% of pharmacies across Wales.
The most common reasons for visiting a pharmacy under the scheme were sore throats, hay fever, conjunctivitis and dermatitis.
Pharmacies also carried out more than 53,000 consultations specifically for sore throat treatment during the same period.
Other services included more than 33,000 consultations for contraception advice and treatment.
Pharmacists also helped patients who had run out of medication, providing more than 121,000 consultations for emergency supplies of medicines.
During those visits, more than 189,000 prescription-only medicines were supplied to people who were unable to obtain a new prescription in time.
Across Wales, pharmacies dispensed more than 80 million prescription items over the same 12-month period.
The Welsh Government says the common ailments service helps people receive care closer to home while freeing up GP appointments for more complex or urgent health needs.
Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said: “Community pharmacies play a vital role in providing healthcare across Wales.
“Nearly half a million consultations in a single year shows just how much people value being able to walk into their local pharmacy and get the help they need quickly, without having to wait for a GP appointment.
“We are working to ensure more people can receive convenient care closer to home, and expanding access to these services is a key part of that.
“The right care, in the right place, at the right time, that is what people in Wales want, and what our pharmacies are delivering.”
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