GP referrals to Pharmacy First resulting in consultations have increased by 2.3%, according to freedom of information (FOI) data from NHS England (NHSE) obtained by C+D.
Numbers had been in decline, with an 11.1% decrease in referrals from June 2024 to June 2025 followed by an 11.9% decrease in July, and a 5.6% decrease in August.
But from September 2025, referrals began increasing from month to month, a pattern which continued into 2026.
The one exception was January, which had a 2.4% dip from 2025 to 2026, decreasing from 104,038 referrals to 101,550.
Highest
The previous year had shown a 24% fall in total referrals leading to consultations from May 2024 to May 2025.
But from September 2025 to May 2026 referrals increased, with March seeing an increase of 8.5%, April seeing 7.1%, and May seeing 15.5%.
Read more: Pharmacy First: Government ‘acting on’ GP refusal to engage
The 15.5% increase from May was the highest of any month, with referrals rising from 78,840 to 91,062.
Referral figures have not returned to their 2024 highs, which were achieved after the service first debuted in January 2024.
Snapshot
Seasonal variations were shown consistently throughout 2024-2026, with fewer referrals in summertime for all three years.
NHS England said the data does “not provide information on whether all these claims were considered valid and paid, the data indicates the number of referrals that were made by GP practices”.
It also said the data is based on a “snapshot” of the data that is currently available.
Read more: GPs call for Pharmacy First funds to be ‘reallocated’ to practices
It comes after Conservative MP Gregory Stafford said in a House of Commons debate in January 2025, that GPs should receive a “financial incentive” in order to engage with Pharmacy First.
He added that “there are disincentives for general practitioners to embrace Pharmacy First”.
Read more: BMA: GPs not ‘reluctant’ to engage but Pharmacy First rolled out ‘too quickly’
And it follows the Independent Pharmacies Association saying in May that it “wants to see the number of GP referrals” to the Pharmacy First service “reduce over time”.
The body added that the service “will only reach its full potential if patients are empowered to access the service directly” and “without unnecessary and inconvenient contact with their GP first”.
