Walk in Consultation Service (WiCS5) – Local Pilot
A relaunch of the popular Community Pharmacy Walk in Consultation Service (WiCS) has been approved by HNYICB.
WiCS 5 will run from 14th December 2026 to 31st January 2027. However, the service may end earlier if the available funding is fully exhausted before this date
The Walking Consultation Service (WiCS) aims to reduce pressure on General Practice, Urgent Care, and Emergency Departments by providing accessible community-based screening, assessment, and advice for minor conditions. The service enables patients across Humber and North Yorkshire to access timely appointments with a registered pharmacist, ensuring that minor health concerns are managed efficiently while identifying and signposting patients with more serious conditions to the most appropriate healthcare setting.
This improves patient access to care, makes better use of clinical resources, and supports the wider NHS system.
The ICB will send a contract offer to all pharmacies who express an interest in participating. You can express your interest by completing the form below.
All pharmacists intending to provide this service must ENROL on the new WiCS 5 PharmOutcomes platform (once released), this can be completed in advance of providing any consultations. It is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the WiCS 5 service platform prior to delivering the service.
A paper consultation template has also been created and added to the platform which can be downloaded and printed for use.
Supporting documentation (Annex D and Service specification) have also been added to the PharmOutcomes platform to support you.
Key points to note:
- The WiCS service is based on the same principles as the traditional Pharmacy First minor ailment consultation service. The key difference between WiCS and Pharmacy First minor conditions service, is that a patient can access the local WiCS service through self-referral when accessing a pharmacy for advice.
- This service does NOT rely on a referral being raised by an external party.
- Each consultation MUST be delivered by a pharmacist.
The following video explains how the Pharmacy First and WiCS service fit together:
NOTE: This video refers to the 2024 WiCS service, however the same principles still apply. The service fees quoted in the video for PF, WiCS and the local MAS scheme increased in 2025. Additionally, the number of conditions included in the local MAS service has increased beyond 28. Please refer to the local service specification for further details.
The service follows the format of the national Pharmacy First Minor Illness service, however the route into the local WICS service is via direct self-referral from the patient or via the community pharmacy team.
The following fees have been agreed for the service:
| Consultation | Fee |
| WiCS Consultation: | £17/consultation in line with the national Pharmacy First Minor Illness service |
| WiCS Consultation which results in a MAS referral: | £10/consultation |
| WiCS Consultation which results in a referral into a Pharmacy First Clinical Pathway | £0.00 (payment will be via the relevant pathway) |
Any further questions about the pilot should be directed to: humber.lpc@nhs.net
Expression of interest form:
Submission Instructions
Expressions of interest must be submitted by Monday 9th November 2026 using the form below.
Following the close of the EOI process, participating pharmacies will be identified and details shared with Humber and North Yorkshire ICB to support contract issue, PharmOutcomes configuration and service mobilisation activities ahead of the planned go-live date of 14th December 2026.
North Yorkshire Pharmacies requiring an ICB-funded PharmOutcomes licence will receive access at no upfront cost. However, where fewer than 50 WICS consultations are delivered during the service period, the ICB reserves the right to recover the licence cost (£65 + VAT) from the contractor.
