Patients can receive treatment directly from pharmacies for seven common ailments
It can be incredibly difficult to secure an appointment with a GP these days. Since the launch of the Pharmacy First in January 2024, pharmacists in England have been able to carry out consultations and issue antibiotics when appropriate.
The aim was to make it easier for people to get the help they need and free up millions of GP appointments. Pharmacists are able to provide prescription medicines and oral contraception to ease the pressure on GPs.
People with seven common ailments such as sore throat and earache can go into a chemist to be assessed, rather than making an appointment with their GP. Conditions they can offer prescription medicine for are:
- impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
- infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
- earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
- sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
- sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
- urinary tract infections (UTIs) (women aged 16 to 64 years)
- shingles (aged 18 years and over)
If you are not within these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice and support decisions about self care treatment with over the counter medicines, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.
If you go to a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or other health professional if needed. They will also update your GP health record, but your information will not be shared with anyone else.
Most pharmacies can provide prescription medicine for these conditions but contact them before visiting to check.
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