Our new NHS service means you can get clinical advice and a suitable treatment for selected common health conditions, without needing to see your GP.
How the NHS Pharmacy First Service works
Check your symptoms
Use our symptom checker below if you're showing signs of one of the relevant conditions and select the condition link to get started. Alternatively, you can come into the pharmacy and complete the questionnaire at our kiosk.
Book your appointment
We’ll take a few details and ask you about your condition. You’ll then be signposted to the most appropriate provider for treatment
Have your consultation
We will then contact you for a consultation and provide treatment without needing to see you surgery if this is appropriate. If your condition is out of the remit of this service, you will be signposted appropriately.
Get your treatment
Our pharmacist will chat to you about the most suitable treatment. They might issue a prescription medicine, or inform you about helpful treatments available from our shop.
What conditions can we help with?
Impetigo
We might be able to help if you:
- Are an adult, or suspect impetigo in a child aged 1 or older
- Have red sores and blisters on the skin
- Have blisters that have popped and left crusty, golden-brown patches that could:
- Look like cornflakes on your skin
- Get bigger
- Cause itching
- Spread to other areas of your body
- Sometimes be sore and tender to touch
This service isn’t suitable for pregnant individuals under 16 years old who should instead make an appointment to see their doctor.
You’ll also need to contact your GP if you keep getting impetigo infections
Infected Insect Bites
We might be able to help if you:
- Are an adult, or suspect a child in your care over 1 year old has developed an infected insect bite
- Were bitten more than 2 days ago
- Notice the bite site is:
- Red
- Painful or tender to touch
- Swollen
- Warm or hot to the touch
- Turning red and the redness is spreading to the surrounding skin
- Weeping, or there’s puss coming from the affected area
This service isn’t suitable for pregnant individuals under 16 years old who should instead make an appointment to see their doctor.
You’ll also need to contact your GP if you keep getting impetigo infections
Shingles
We might be able to help if you:
- Are an adult aged 18 or over
Are showing symptoms including:
- A tingling or painful sensation on an area of your skin
- Feeling generally unwell and experiencing headache
- Developing a blotchy rash within a few days of the two previous symptoms (usually on the chest or tummy, but it can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, eyes, or genitals).
Shingles rash appears only on one side of your body. A rash spanning both the left and right side of your body will most likely be a sign of a different condition, and we’d recommend speaking to your GP or calling NHS 111.
You should also speak to your GP if you suspect shingles and you’re pregnant.
Sinusitis
We might be able to help if you:
- You’re an adult or suspect a child in your care aged 12 or over may have sinusitis
- You’re getting over a recent episode of cold or flu (sinusitis is common following a viral infection like this)
Are showing symptoms including:
- A cough
- Toothache
- Raised temperature (above 38C)
- A headache with pressure, pain, or tenderness around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead
- Green or yellow-coloured snot
- A reduced sense of smell
- Blocked nose
This service isn’t suitable for pregnant individuals under 16 years old who should instead make an appointment to see their doctor.
You’ll also need to speak to your GP if you have a compromised immune system or your symptoms have been ongoing for over 12 weeks (chronic sinusitis).
Sore Throat
We might be able to help if you:
- Are 18 or over
- Or have a child aged 5 and above with a sore throat
Have symptoms including:
- A raised temperature (above 38C)
- Pain when swallowing
- Red, inflamed tonsils
- White, streaky patches on the tonsils
This service isn’t suitable for pregnant individuals under 16 years old who should instead make an appointment to see their doctor.
You’ll also need to speak to your GP about your sore throat if it’s been ongoing for 12 months (7 or more episodes in this time).
Urinary Tract Infections
We might be able to help if you:
- Are female and aged between 18-64
Have symptoms including:
- Needing to pee more often than usual, including at night
- Pain or discomfort when peeing
- An urgent or sudden need to pee
- loudy looking urine
If you notice blood in your pee or pain in your lower tummy area, we’d recommend making an appointment with your GP.
If you experience the following symptoms, ask for an emergency (same-day) or out-of-hours appointment with your GP:
- Kidney pain (tenderness behind the ribs toward the back)
- Feeling and/or being sick
- Flu-like symptoms
- A temperature above 38C
- A temperature below 36C
You’ll also need to speak to your GP about a UTI treatment if you’re pregnant, use a catheter, or have recurring UTIs (2 in the last 6 months, or 3 in the last 12 months).
Ear Infections
We might be able to help if you:
- Children aged 1-17 years of age
