Common ailments service: onward referrals by ailment and destination
Table
| Data values | Data description | Year | Ailment | Referral destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,811 | Number | 2024-25 | Acne | No referral |
| 208 | Number | 2024-25 | Acne | GP |
| 10 | Number | 2024-25 | Acne | GP out of hours |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Acne | A&E |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Acne | Dentist |
| 36 | Number | 2024-25 | Acne | Other |
| 5,809 | Number | 2024-25 | Athlete's foot | No referral |
| 152 | Number | 2024-25 | Athlete's foot | GP |
| 2 | Number | 2024-25 | Athlete's foot | GP out of hours |
| 36 | Number | 2024-25 | Athlete's foot | Other |
| 3,981 | Number | 2024-25 | Back pain (acute) in adults | No referral |
| 285 | Number | 2024-25 | Back pain (acute) in adults | GP |
| 7 | Number | 2024-25 | Back pain (acute) in adults | GP out of hours |
| 10 | Number | 2024-25 | Back pain (acute) in adults | A&E |
| 40 | Number | 2024-25 | Back pain (acute) in adults | Other |
| 3,736 | Number | 2024-25 | Chicken pox - in children under 14 years | No referral |
| 52 | Number | 2024-25 | Chicken pox - in children under 14 years | GP |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Chicken pox - in children under 14 years | GP out of hours |
| 2 | Number | 2024-25 | Chicken pox - in children under 14 years | Optometrist |
| 24 | Number | 2024-25 | Chicken pox - in children under 14 years | Other |
| 887 | Number | 2024-25 | Cold sores | No referral |
| 233 | Number | 2024-25 | Cold sores | GP |
| 7 | Number | 2024-25 | Cold sores | GP out of hours |
| 3 | Number | 2024-25 | Cold sores | Dentist |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Cold sores | Optometrist |
| 86 | Number | 2024-25 | Cold sores | Other |
| 24 | Number | 2024-25 | Colic | No referral |
| 3 | Number | 2024-25 | Colic | GP |
| 48,119 | Number | 2024-25 | Conjunctivitis (bacterial) | No referral |
| 405 | Number | 2024-25 | Conjunctivitis (bacterial) | GP |
| 21 | Number | 2024-25 | Conjunctivitis (bacterial) | GP out of hours |
| 24 | Number | 2024-25 | Conjunctivitis (bacterial) | A&E |
| 2 | Number | 2024-25 | Conjunctivitis (bacterial) | Dentist |
| 1,190 | Number | 2024-25 | Conjunctivitis (bacterial) | Optometrist |
| 94 | Number | 2024-25 | Conjunctivitis (bacterial) | Other |
| 10,465 | Number | 2024-25 | Constipation | No referral |
| 338 | Number | 2024-25 | Constipation | GP |
| 7 | Number | 2024-25 | Constipation | GP out of hours |
| 3 | Number | 2024-25 | Constipation | A&E |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Constipation | Optometrist |
| 40 | Number | 2024-25 | Constipation | Other |
| 768 | Number | 2024-25 | Diarrhoea | No referral |
| 253 | Number | 2024-25 | Diarrhoea | GP |
| 12 | Number | 2024-25 | Diarrhoea | GP out of hours |
| 2 | Number | 2024-25 | Diarrhoea | A&E |
| 18 | Number | 2024-25 | Diarrhoea | Other |
| 16,927 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry eyes | No referral |
| 118 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry eyes | GP |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry eyes | GP out of hours |
| 3 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry eyes | A&E |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry eyes | Dentist |
| 213 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry eyes | Optometrist |
| 36 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry eyes | Other |
| 44,031 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry skin / dermatitis | No referral |
| 2,748 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry skin / dermatitis | GP |
| 64 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry skin / dermatitis | GP out of hours |
| 29 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry skin / dermatitis | A&E |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry skin / dermatitis | Dentist |
| 14 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry skin / dermatitis | Optometrist |
| 1,268 | Number | 2024-25 | Dry skin / dermatitis | Other |
| 5,213 | Number | 2024-25 | Haemorrhoids | No referral |
| 200 | Number | 2024-25 | Haemorrhoids | GP |
| 3 | Number | 2024-25 | Haemorrhoids | GP out of hours |
| 4 | Number | 2024-25 | Haemorrhoids | A&E |
| 19 | Number | 2024-25 | Haemorrhoids | Other |
| 53,006 | Number | 2024-25 | Hay fever | No referral |
| 219 | Number | 2024-25 | Hay fever | GP |
| 5 | Number | 2024-25 | Hay fever | GP out of hours |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Hay fever | A&E |
| 16 | Number | 2024-25 | Hay fever | Optometrist |
| 236 | Number | 2024-25 | Hay fever | Other |
| 21,952 | Number | 2024-25 | Head lice | No referral |
| 14 | Number | 2024-25 | Head lice | GP |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Head lice | Other |
| 13,058 | Number | 2024-25 | Indigestion and reflux | No referral |
| 360 | Number | 2024-25 | Indigestion and reflux | GP |
| 4 | Number | 2024-25 | Indigestion and reflux | GP out of hours |
| 6 | Number | 2024-25 | Indigestion and reflux | A&E |
| 36 | Number | 2024-25 | Indigestion and reflux | Other |
| 339 | Number | 2024-25 | Ingrowing toenail | No referral |
| 240 | Number | 2024-25 | Ingrowing toenail | GP |
| 2 | Number | 2024-25 | Ingrowing toenail | GP out of hours |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Ingrowing toenail | A&E |
| 138 | Number | 2024-25 | Ingrowing toenail | Other |
| 19,818 | Number | 2024-25 | Intertrigo / ringworm | No referral |
| 490 | Number | 2024-25 | Intertrigo / ringworm | GP |
| 6 | Number | 2024-25 | Intertrigo / ringworm | GP out of hours |
| 106 | Number | 2024-25 | Intertrigo / ringworm | Other |
| 4,870 | Number | 2024-25 | Mouth ulcers | No referral |
| 176 | Number | 2024-25 | Mouth ulcers | GP |
| 3 | Number | 2024-25 | Mouth ulcers | GP out of hours |
| 1 | Number | 2024-25 | Mouth ulcers | A&E |
| 43 | Number | 2024-25 | Mouth ulcers | Dentist |
| 33 | Number | 2024-25 | Mouth ulcers | Other |
| 1,685 | Number | 2024-25 | Nappy rash | No referral |
| 28 | Number | 2024-25 | Nappy rash | GP |
| 3 | Number | 2024-25 | Nappy rash | GP out of hours |
| 6 | Number | 2024-25 | Nappy rash | Other |
| 15,951 | Number | 2024-25 | Oral thrush | No referral |
| 445 | Number | 2024-25 | Oral thrush | GP |
Next update expected:2027
Updates
- 12th March 2026
- Dataset first published.
Main information
- Designation
- Official statistics
- Data provider
- NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
- Data source
- Prescribing Services
Overview
- Summary of dataset and variables
This dataset shows referrals made by pharmacists following a consultation through the Common Ailments Service (CAS). Referrals can be made to NHS services including general practitioners, dentists, optometrists, emergency departments, out of hours GPs, and other NHS providers such as health visitors and chiropodists. Not all consultations result in a referral, and these data are also shown in the table.
Data are presented by ailment and referral destination.
Percentages are calculated within each ailment. This means the numerator is the number of referrals made to each destination per ailment, divided by the number of consultations for the specific ailment. The variables are: Year – the financial year in which the consultation was recorded. Ailment – the condition assessed under the Common Ailment Service. Referral destination – the service patients were referred to, for example GP practice or emergency department. Number of referrals – the number of consultations for an ailment that resulted in a referral to a specific destination. Percentage of consultations referred – the percentage of all consultations for that ailment that resulted in a referral to that destination.
- Data collection or calculation
Each time a consultation is started through the common ailments scheme a record is created an all-Wales community pharmacy system. If the consultation results in a referral, it is recorded on the same record. Data for each consultation is supplied as an individual record. The data in these tables is based on the data supplied and therefore includes all consultations provided in the year. No adjustments are made to the data and no forecasting or modelling is applied.
- Statistical quality
The data are based on administrative records. They reflect activity recorded by pharmacists at each consultation. Statistics are produced using the data as recorded at the consultation. This may result in a small number of ailments or referral destinations being incorrectly recorded. As there is no feasible way to check consultation details, no adjustments are made to records that appear to be miscoded. Data quality depends on accurate recording in pharmacy systems. Local differences in recording practice may affect comparability between areas or years. Changes to service scope or clinical guidance may affect trends over time. Small numbers may be subject to disclosure controls.
- Related reports
Published by
- Organisation
- Welsh Government
- Contact email
- stats.healthinfo@gov.wales