Think Pharmacy First ( Published: 23/01/2025)
This free NHS service allows you to get quick access to healthcare advice for the following 7 conditions:
- 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 throats (aged 5 years and over)
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women (aged 16 to 64 years)
If you have symptoms that suggest you may have one of these conditions, you can walk into a pharmacy and be offered a consultation with a pharmacist in a private consultation room. Some pharmacies also offer the service remotely as a video consultation.
Your GP surgery may also electronically refer you to a pharmacy of your choice for the service.
The pharmacist will provide advice and, if clinically necessary, a prescription medicine to treat the condition (NHS prescription charges apply if you normally pay for medicines supplied on prescription).
An electronic message will be sent to your GP surgery so they can update your health record.
If the pharmacist can’t treat you, they will direct you to your GP surgery or another health professional.
If you have symptoms that suggest you have one of the above conditions, why not give the Pharmacy First service a try?
Think Pharmacy First!
Find out more by watching the Pharmacy First animation video below, or by visiting nhs.uk/thinkpharmacyfirst.
