If you are feeling unwell with any of these conditions, you can go to your local participating pharmacy and ask for a private consultation with the pharmacist.
You may also be referred by a GP practice if they don’t have any appointments and believe your pharmacy can help. The 111 helpline service may also refer you. Pharmacists can also offer this service on-the-spot if you go in asking generally for help.
Pharmacists may offer a virtual consultation by phone or video call, or in person in a private room in the pharmacy. They will ask questions and may perform an examination. The pharmacist will be able to recommend the best course of action based on your clinical needs. This might include issuing prescriptions for antibiotics or antivirals where necessary or advising you on over-the-counter treatments that could help. This service is called Pharmacy First
What are the benefits
There are many benefits to the scheme, helping to make care easier and more accessible. These benefits include:
- Participating pharmacies must offer the service during all their opening hours including any late nights or weekends.
- It may be quicker to see your pharmacist than waiting for an appointment with your GP.
Conditions that can be treated 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)
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 contact the practice for treatment.
Self Refer with Patient Triage
Visit our Patient Triage online service to fill in an assessment and self refer online if you have one of these conditions or you can walk into your local pharmacy.
Getting the contraceptive pill without a prescription
You may be able to get the contraceptive pill from a pharmacy if you need to:
- start the contraceptive pill for the first time
- take the contraceptive pill again after a break from using it
If you already have a prescription for the contraceptive pill, you can use the prescription as usual. Or you can get the pill from a pharmacy without a prescription if you prefer.
There is an NHS website postcode search tool that enables you to find local pharmacies that deliver the contraception service.
Get a free blood pressure check
You can get a free blood pressure checked at a pharmacy without seeing a GP, if you:
- are aged 40 or over
- and live in England
You cannot get a free blood pressure check if you:
- already have high blood pressure
- have had your blood pressure checked by a healthcare professional in the past 6 months
Some pharmacies offer free blood pressure check.
- Click here to find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks.
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: