Advice and treatment
Going to your local pharmacy offers an easy and convenient way to get clinical advice on minor health concerns – you don’t need an appointment and you can be seen in a private consultation room.
They 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)- a contagious skin infection
- Infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
- Shingles (aged 18 years and over)- infection that causes a painful rash
- Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)- infection of the sinuses (behind the forehead, cheeks and nose)
- Sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
- Urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)
To refer yourself to a local pharmacy, follow this link.
The pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or another healthcare professional if needed.
Pharmacies will 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.
Please note on weekends online self-referral may take longer as the practice is closed and will not look at your assessment until we are open, for quicker response please walk into your local pharmacy.
Find a Pharmacy: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy
Information on Hypertension Case Finding Services (HCFS) and Pharmacy
Community pharmacy teams can offer people over the age of 40, without a diagnosis of hypertension, a BP check to find those with undiagnosed hypertension. In addition, they can also carry out BP checks at the request of your GP practice.
There is an NHS website postcode search tool that enables you to find local pharmacies that deliver blood pressure check services.
Contraception Service (PCS)
Community pharmacy teams can provide both the initiation and ongoing supply of oral contraception for individuals from the onset of menstruation through to age 54.
Your GP can refer you into this service or women can self-present at the pharmacy.
There is an NHS website postcode search tool that enables you to find local pharmacies that deliver the contraception service.
Emergency Medicines
If you need a limited supply of prescribed medicine in an emergency, such as if you have run out, lost, or damaged your medication. They cannot help with antibiotics for new or recent problems, or controlled drugs that require identification.
There are two main ways you can request an emergency supply of medicines: Contact NHS 111 via telephone or use the online service here: Emergency prescriptions – NHS 111.