NHS pharmacies
Pharmacists can give you advice on a range of conditions and suggest medicines that can help. They can also help you with any queries you may have about your medicines, including how to use them and advice on side effects.
Pharmacists may also be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP (this is called Pharmacy First). Conditions they can treat as part of Pharmacy First are:
- earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
- impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
- infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
- shingles (aged 18 years and over)
- sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
- sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
- urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)
If you go to a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or other healthcare professional if needed.
They will then update your GP health record.
If you are not within these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.
Hear from a local community pharmacist about the service
Other services that your local community pharmacy may provide include emergency contraception, free blood pressure checks (for those aged 40 and over), stop-smoking advice and more.