Pharmacy Services

Highly trained pharmacists at more than nine in ten pharmacies can now assess and treat patients for: 

• 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 go to a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or other healthcare professional if needed.

They will then update your GP health record.

Community pharmacy teams are highly-skilled, qualified health professionals who have the right clinical training to give people the health advice they need. Patients don’t need an appointment and private consultation rooms are available. Pharmacy teams can also signpost to other relevant local services where necessary.

Pharmacists have always helped patients, families and carers in their communities stay healthy and are well placed to offer treatment for health conditions. By expanding the services community pharmacies offer, the NHS is aiming to free up GP appointments and give people more choice in how and where they access care.

Don’t wait for minor health concerns to get worse – think pharmacy first and get seen by your local pharmacy team.

Thanks to the NHS community pharmacy oral contraception service, you can now get the contraceptive pill for free, directly from your local pharmacy, without needing a prescription or an appointment with your GP. Whether you’re starting contraception for the first time or need a repeat supply, your local pharmacist is here to help.

The service is delivered by trained pharmacists in a private consultation room. Everything you discuss is confidential, and your pharmacist will talk through your options and check your health to make sure the pill is right for you.

Ask about oral contraception at your local pharmacy.