Acute sore throat: Pharmacy First pathway
Explore FeverPAIN assessment, important alternative presentations, self-care and reassessment of persistent sore throat.
Free educational reference for pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. Open the interactive pathway and linked material in CRx Workspace without an account or payment card.
What the Acute sore throat pathway covers
The sore-throat pathway organises the consultation around assessment of the presenting illness, FeverPAIN and the need to consider other presentations. It also includes self-care, reassessment and safety-netting material.
- FeverPAIN and the features assessed in the sore-throat consultation
- Scarlet fever, quinsy and glandular fever as named alternative presentations
- Deterioration and serious throat or airway complications
- Symptom relief, pharmacist reassessment and TARGET respiratory safety-netting
Further reading and official resources
External links for further reading and checking current guidance.
- NHS England: Acute sore throat PGDs and service documents
- NICE NG12: head and neck cancer referral guidance
- NICE CKS: Acute sore throat
- NHS: Acute sore throat
- Community Pharmacy England: Pharmacy First service resources
For England’s Pharmacy First service. This independent educational reference does not replace the current official specification, clinical pathway, PGDs or protocol.
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