Pharmacy First Referrals from Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) in Watford to Community Pharmacies Going Live

From Monday, 25 November 2024, Watford UTC at Watford Hospital will begin referring patients to local pharmacies as part of the Pharmacy First service. This initiative aims to reduce waiting times at UTCs and ensure patients receive timely care.

Nurses at the UTCs will identify suitable patients and refer them to nearby pharmacies via email to the pharmacy’s NHS.net email address. Patients will also be given a paper form explaining the service. Pharmacies in these areas should regularly check their shared nhs.net email for referrals from UTCs, where patients may indicate that they have been referred.

These pharmacy consultations will be counted as part of the Pharmacy First service and must be recorded on the Pharmacy IT system under Pharmacy First. While pharmacies may experience a slight increase in workload, this is a soft launch, so the impact will be minimal and gradual.

If you experience any issues, please contact the CPH office. We have direct contact with UTC colleagues and will be monitoring a smooth implementation.