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Headaches: Pharmacy

Asked by Mark SewardsLabourDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 17 July 2026UIN 18273

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include migraine and other headache conditions within the Pharmacy First initiative.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock

As part of Pharmacy First minor illness consultations, pharmacists can already provide advice and recommend over-the-counter treatments for headaches and migraines. Pharmacists can also supply emergency medicines to patients already prescribed regular migraine medication as part of the urgent medicine supply element of Pharmacy First.

NHS England keeps the clinical scope of all pharmacy services under regular review, including Pharmacy First, and any changes to the conditions covered by the seven clinical pathways would be subject to consultation with Community Pharmacy England.

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