Think Pharmacy First
Community pharmacies can offer treatment for seven common conditions without patients needing to see a GP or get a prescription, as part of a major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care. Highly trained pharmacists at more than nine in ten pharmacies can now assess and offer treatment for:
- Earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
- Impetigo (a contagious skin infection - aged 1 year and over)
- 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 (UTIs) (women aged 16 to 64 years)
Book your Pharmacy First appointment directly by using the button below:
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 till we are open, for quicker response please walk into your local pharmacy.
Community pharmacy teams are highly-skilled, qualified health professionals who have the right clinical training to give people the health advice they need. Patients don't need an appointment and private consultation rooms are available. Pharmacy teams can also signpost to other relevant local services where necessary.
Pharmacists have always helped patients, families and carers in their communities stay healthy and are well placed to offer treatment for health conditions. By expanding the services community pharmacies offer, the NHS is aiming to free up GP appointments and give people more choice in how and where they access care.
Don't wait for minor health concerns to get worse – think pharmacy first and get seen by your local pharmacy team.
Visit the NHS website for more information on how community pharmacists can help you.
Emergency Medicines
If you need a limited 'emergency supply' of a repeat prescription medicine when you have run out completely and the practice is closed, please visit NHS 111's Emergency Prescription website
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. Find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription
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
- 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
book your bp check
Some pharmacies offer a free blood pressure check. Find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks.
Find your local pharmacy
The NHS find a service search tool can locate the nearest pharmacies to any postcode. Give it a try:
