Pharmacy first
Accessing pharmacy first
With the Pharmacy First service, you can visit your local pharmacy for expert advice and treatment for many common conditions - no need to wait for a GP appointment. It’s fast, convenient, and safe, with trained pharmacists who can provide prescription-only medicines like antibiotics. The service is free, following normal NHS prescription rules.
Conditions
As well as several minor conditions, depending on your age, your pharmacist can treat you for:
Earache, Impetigo, Infected insect bites, Shingles, Sinusitis, Sore throat and Uncomplicated UTIs.
Find out more about the conditions a pharmacist can treat you for and their causes and symptoms.
Ear, nose and throat
Earache
by Dr Philippa Vincent, MRCGP
Infections
Shingles
by Dr Philippa Vincent, MRCGP
Ear, nose and throat
Acute sinusitis
by Dr Surangi Mendis, MRCGP
Kidney and urinary tract
Urinary tract infections
by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP
Medicines
Medicines for conditions such as earache, sore throat, UTIs, and infected insect bites are available directly from your pharmacist.
There are also many other types of medicine that a pharmacist can supply such as emergency contraception, painkillers, hay fever treatment, constipation relief, and basic first-aid items.
Find out more about the different types of medicines that can be bought and prescribed from a pharmacy.
Treatment and medication
Can a pharmacist prescribe antibiotics?
by Victoria Raw
Treatment and medication
What to do if your medication isn't available
by Victoria Raw
Sexual health
You can visit a pharmacy for a range of sexual health services such as contraception and STI testing.
Find out more about which sexual health problems a pharmacist can help you with as well as other health advice and information on sexually transmitted infections and contraception.
Sexual health
Easy ways to get the pill: options beyond the GP surgery
by Amberley Davis
Sexual health
Home STI tests: how they work and what to expect
by Amberley Davis