Get prescriptions and health advice from your local pharmacist. Book an appointment or contact your local pharmacy if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms relating to any of these common conditions.
Stay well and avoid long waits at your GP or in A&E. Pharmacy First allows you and your loved ones to get health advice from our expert pharmacists. They can then provide NHS treatments for:
We can provide you the same treatments you would get from a GP.
The pharmacy first service is an accessible service for all, where you can receive support, advice and if necessary, medication to support you with common conditions.
Learn more about Pharmacy First
How can Pharmacy First save time?
Pharmacy First will help you get seen by a healthcare professional quickly.
Instead of waiting for a GP appointment, going to A&E or attending out-of-hours NHS services, you can walk into your nearest Pharmacy and have a private consultation with one of our pharmacists whenever you need to.
What are the benefits of Pharmacy First?
Pharmacy First will allow you to self-treat minor ailments and reduce the time you spend at your GP surgery.
Pharmacists have a range of clinical skills, and they will be able to provide accurate clinical advice without the hassle and waiting times that you might experience using other NHS services like A&E.
If it turns out you need treatment from a GP, your pharmacist can also refer you to them.
Who is eligible for Pharmacy First?
Only patients in England will be eligible for the Pharmacy First service.
Will I need to prove that I don't have to pay for my prescriptions?
If you are exempt from paying for prescriptions, you should show your pharmacists evidence of this when you speak to them. They will need it if they recommend any medicines to treat your symptoms.
What will the pharmacist ask during my consultation?
Our pharmacist will want to understand:
- The symptoms you're experiencing
- Your medical history
- If you're experiencing any other types of illness.
This will help them recommend treatments and medicines that will work for you.
Pharmacy First Service – An explanation of how the service works and how our pharmacists can help
Community Pharmacies were previously able to support patients with care and treatment for a range of minor illnesses.
On 31 January 2024, the Government launched the new Pharmacy First service. This service is an expansion of previous Minor Ailments scheme, enabling Community Pharmacists to also treat patients without a prescription for 7 specific conditions without you needing to see a GP (this is called Pharmacy First)
Conditions our pharmacists can treat as part of Pharmacy First 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)
If you visit one our pharmacies with one of the above conditions, our pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or other healthcare professional if needed.
If you are not within these age ranges, our pharmacist can still offer advice, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.
Our pharmacist will ask you questions about your health and symptoms in a private consultation room. This may include questions regarding allergies or any medications you may be taking.
In some cases, based on symptoms, our pharmacist may need to do an examination – for example for earache, they may look in your ear with an otoscope.
Below is a list of the 7 conditions where our pharmacists can treat patients without a prescription. Please check your symptoms below and contact us if you could be treated by our Pharmacists.
Don’t forget to visit your Pharmacy First and Ask Your Pharmacist.
Bromborough
Wirral
Merseyside
CH62 7HP