England expands pharmacy treatments to 12 conditions including migraines and acne

As England's NHS strains under record demand, the quiet corner of the high street chemist is being asked to carry more of the nation's health burden. This autumn, five new conditions — migraines, acne, ear infections, scabies, and blocked noses — join a growing list that pharmacists can treat without a GP referral, part of a broader reckoning with how a modern health system distributes care. The Pharmacy First scheme, already delivering millions of consultations since 2024, reflects an old truth: that access to healing should not depend on navigating an overwhelmed system, but the question of