What is Pharmacy First?
Feeling unwell with your minor illness? The NHS Pharmacy First service means that patients can get treatment for the conditions listed below by visiting their local pharmacy. Our receptionists, NHS 111 and providers of emergency care will also be able to direct patients to the pharmacies that offer this service.
For the below 7 conditions, you can now have a face-to-face consultation with a in a consultation room with your pharmacist and get treatment on prescription*. The 7 conditions are:
- earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
- impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
- infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
- shingles (aged 18 years and over)
- sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
- sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
- urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)
The pharmacist will be able to speak to you privately in a separate consultation room. They may perform an examination or ask to access your medical records. The pharmacist will be able to recommend the best course of action on an individual patient basis, including by issuing prescriptions for antibiotics or antivirals where necessary.
Usual prescription charges will apply for the seven common conditions. Patients that were already exempt from prescription charges will still be exempt.
