Get help from a pharmacy
You can get help and clinical advice from your local pharmacy. It's fast, free and you don't need an appointment.
Before you go to the pharmacy
You may want to contact the pharmacy to find out how they can help.
How pharmacies can help
Advice
Your local pharmacist is a health professional with clinical training. They can offer advice on a large range of illnesses and medicines, not just coughs and colds, and may offer other free services (for those that are eligible) such as:
- Ongoing and Emergency Contraception
- Blood pressure checks
- Stopping smoking
- Weight management advice
- Flu vaccinations
- Lateral flow tests
7 Common Illnesses and the Pharmacy First Service
The NHS has approved pharmacists to treat and prescribe medicines, if needed, for 7 common illnesses which are listed below. This may also be referred to as the Pharmacy First service. This means you may not need to see a GP and can be seen sooner. All you need to do is drop in, or book an appointment, with your local pharmacy. Sometimes you may also be referred for the Pharmacy First service by your GP surgery or NHS 111.
- Sinusitis (12 years and over)
- Sore throat (5 years and over)
- Earache (1–17 years)
- Infected insect bites and stings (1 year and older)
- Impetigo (1 year and older)
- Shingles (18 years and over)
- UTIs – Urinary Tract Infections (women aged 16 to 64 years)
Many pharmacies offer a variety of other services. For further information on how a pharmacy can help you, see the NHS website:
Request an appointment at the surgery
If the services above are not suitable, you can request an appointment at the surgery.