Pharmacy First: Quick Help for Everyday Health Problems
Your local pharmacist can help with common illnesses. You don’t need an appointment or to see a doctor first.
Many pharmacies are open when GP practices are closed, like evenings or weekends.
This service is called Pharmacy First.
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What Can Pharmacy First Help With?
Pharmacy First can treat seven health problems without a prescription:
- Earache or ear infections (ages 1–17)
- Skin infections or impetigo (ages 1+)
- Infected insect bites (ages 1+)
- Shingles (ages 18+)
- Sinus infections (ages 12+)
- Sore throats (ages 5+)
- Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) for women (ages 16–64)
Most pharmacies in England (over 10,000) are part of this service.
How Does It Work?
- Visit Any Pharmacy
- Just walk in—no appointment is needed.
- Some pharmacies let you contact them online first.
- Private Chat with a Pharmacist
- You’ll talk to the pharmacist in a private room.
- They may ask to see your medical records. This helps them check for allergies or other medicines you take.
- On-the-Spot Treatment
- The pharmacist will check what’s wrong and give advice.
- They can also prescribe medicine if needed.
- Your health records will be updated.
- Find a Pharmacy
- Use the NHS website to find one near you.
Why Use Pharmacy First?
Pharmacy First makes getting help quick and easy:
- No appointments needed – Just walk in and ask for help.
- One-stop service – Get advice, prescriptions, and medicine in one visit.
- Open longer hours – Many pharmacies are open in the evening and at weekends.
- Go anywhere – Use any pharmacy near home, work, or while on holiday.
Pharmacies can also help with other services like:
- NHS flu jabs
- Free blood pressure checks
- Contraceptive pills without a prescription
How Pharmacy First Helps the NHS
Pharmacy First helps free up GP appointments. The NHS says it could save 10 million GP visits every year.
This means doctors can focus on patients with serious problems. It also means you get faster care for minor illnesses.
Find a Pharmacist
You can find a pharmacy near you on the NHS website. Just type in your postcode to see nearby services.