Treating Minor Illnesses

Understanding minor illnesses empowers you to take charge of common health issues with confidence. Below, you’ll find information on where and how to seek advice, as well as the different services available to you. If you’re ever unsure about your symptoms, healthcare professionals are always here to support you.

Think Pharmacy First

Pharmacy First services aim to give patients faster access to medications for common ailments without the need for a GP appointment. This initiative allows community pharmacists to dispense prescription-only medications, such as antibiotics and antivirals, for seven specific conditions. The goal is to alleviate the burden on GP services and enhance the accessibility and convenience of healthcare for patients.

Benefits of Pharmacy First Services

  1. Quick Access: Patients can obtain treatment for common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, eliminating the need to book a GP appointment.

  2. Convenience: More than 10,000 pharmacies throughout England provide this service, making it simpler for patients to receive care.

  3. Reduced Waiting Times: By managing minor illnesses, Pharmacy First helps to free up around 10 million GP appointments each year, enabling GPs to concentrate on more complex cases.

  4. Patient Empowerment: This service encourages patients to take charge of their health by equipping them with essential information and treatment choices.

Advice and treatment

Conditions they can treat as part of Pharmacy First are:

  1. earache (aged 1 to 17 years)

  2. impetigo (aged 1 year and over) - a contagious skin infection

  3. infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)

  4. shingles (aged 18 years and over) - infection that causes a painful rash

  5. sinusitis (aged 12 years and over) - infection of the sinuses (behind the forehead, cheeks and nose)

  6. sore throat (aged 5 years and over)

  7. urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)

Click here to fill in an assessment and self refer online if you have one of these conditions or you can walk into your local pharmacy. The pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or another healthcare professional if needed. Pharmacies will update your GP health record. If you are not within these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.

Please note on weekends online self-referral may take longer as the practice is closed and will not look at your assessment till we are open, for quicker response, please walk into your local pharmacy. Find a Pharmacy: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy.

Getting the contraceptive pill without a prescription

You may be able to get the contraceptive pill from a pharmacy if you need to:

  • start the contraceptive pill for the first time
  • take the contraceptive pill again after a break from using it

If you already have a prescription for the contraceptive pill, you can use the prescription as usual. Or you can get the pill from a pharmacy without a prescription if you prefer.

Find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription

Get a free blood pressure check

You can get a free blood pressure checked at a pharmacy without seeing a GP, if you:

  • are aged 40 or over
  • live in England

You cannot get a free blood pressure check if you:

  • already have high blood pressure
  • have had your blood pressure checked by a healthcare professional in the past 6 months

Some pharmacies offer a free blood pressure check. Click here to find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks.

NHS app

The NHS App offers a simple, secure way to access a range of NHS services, reducing the need for calls or visits to your GP. With the app, you can:

  • order repeat prescriptions: manage your repeat prescriptions and easily change your nominated pharmacy, so you can place orders at your convenience
  • book appointments: schedule or cancel GP appointments directly through the app
  • access your GP health record: securely view details of your medical history, including test results, immunisations, and allergies
  • access resources: use NHS 111 online to answer questions, get instant advice, or find medical help nearby
How to get started:
  1.  Download the NHS App from the App Store or Google Play
  2.  Register for an account using your email and NHS number
  3. Confirm your identity by following the secure verification process to unlock all features
Need help setting up?

If you have any questions or need assistance, our friendly staff are here to help. Visit the reception, and we’ll support you every step of the way.
Learn more at the NHS App page.

Emergency Medicines

If you’ve run out of a regular prescription and urgently need medication, the emergency prescription service is here to help. The NHS 111 Emergency Prescription page guides you through obtaining a limited supply of your usual medicines without needing to visit a GP. You'll be asked questions about your situation and directed to the nearest pharmacy or service that can assist. Prescription charges apply unless you're exempt.

When not to use this service

If you need medicine and also have any symptoms, call 111 and speak to an adviser instead.

You cannot use this service to get:

  • antibiotics for a new or recent problem
  • controlled drugs that require identification to collect