Pharmacy First
No need to get a GP appointment
Get professional advice and treatment for seven common conditions directly from our pharmacy, without seeing your GP first. Our qualified pharmacists can assess your symptoms and provide appropriate care quickly and conveniently.
Conditions we can help with
Select a condition below to learn more about symptoms, treatment, and book your appointment.
Earache
Pain or discomfort in the ear, common in children aged 1-17. Our pharmacists can assess and provide treatment.
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Sore throat
Painful throat often caused by infection. We can help with assessment and treatment for ages 5+.
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Sinusitis
Inflammation of the sinuses causing facial pain and congestion. Treatment available for ages 12+.
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Infected insect bite
Redness, swelling, and pain around an insect bite. We can provide treatment for ages 1+.
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Impetigo
Contagious skin infection with golden crusty patches. Treatment available for ages 1+.
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Shingles
Painful rash caused by chickenpox virus. We can help assess and treat for adults 18+.
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UTI
Urinary tract infection causing pain and frequent urination. Treatment for women aged 16-64.
Learn more & bookEarache
1–17 yearsAre you or your child experiencing the discomfort of earache? If you have earache you can visit us instead of waiting to see your GP. In many cases, our highly qualified pharmacists can offer a convenient and effective solution.
What are the symptoms of earache?
- Ear pain (sharp, dull, throbbing or constant)
- A sensation of fullness or pressure in the affected ear
- Discharge or fluid draining from the ear
- Hearing changes
- Fever
- Irritability in infants and young children
Common causes
- Ear infections
- Earwax build-up
- Water trapped in the ear canal ("swimmer's ear")
- Minor injury or trauma
If symptoms are severe, getting worse, or not improving, we'll advise you on the next best step, including seeing your GP or urgent care where appropriate.
This service may not be suitable if:
- The child is not between 1 and 17 years old
- The child has a very stiff neck with sensitivity to light, pain or swelling behind the ear, a severe headache with confusion or drowsiness, or drooping/weakness on one side of the face
- The child has a serious long-term health condition (heart, lung, kidney, liver, muscular/nerve condition, immune system condition, cystic fibrosis, or was born significantly premature)
- There is fluid or discharge coming from the ear
- The child has a hole in their eardrum (confirmed by a doctor or suspected from previous discharge)
Sore Throat
5+ yearsA sore throat is a common condition that can be painful and uncomfortable. Our pharmacists can assess your symptoms and provide treatment to help you feel better faster.
What are the symptoms of a sore throat?
- Pain or scratchiness in the throat
- Pain that worsens when swallowing or talking
- Swollen, red tonsils
- White patches or pus on tonsils
- Hoarse or muffled voice
- Fever
Common causes
- Viral infections (colds, flu)
- Bacterial infections (strep throat)
- Allergies
- Dry air
If you have difficulty breathing, swallowing, or severe symptoms, we will advise you to seek urgent medical care.
This service may not be suitable if:
- You or the patient is under 5 years old
- You have difficulty swallowing, muffled/unusual voice, drooling, or feel extremely unwell
- You have a widespread red rash, very swollen one-sided throat, severely swollen glands, worrying symptoms, or have a weakened immune system
- You do NOT have at least 2 of these: fever over 38°C, white/yellow pus on tonsils, sore throat started within 3 days, very swollen tonsils, OR no cough/cold alongside sore throat
Sinusitis
12+ yearsSinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses, often caused by infection. Our pharmacists can help assess your symptoms and provide treatment to relieve your discomfort.
What are the symptoms of sinusitis?
- Pain and pressure in the face (around nose, eyes, forehead)
- Blocked or runny nose
- Reduced sense of smell
- Green or yellow nasal discharge
- Headache
- Toothache
Common causes
- Viral infection (cold or flu)
- Bacterial infection
- Allergies
- Nasal polyps
If you have severe headache with neck stiffness, vision changes, or facial swelling, we will advise you to seek urgent care.
This service may not be suitable if:
- You or the patient is under 12 years old
- You or the patient has a weakened immune system (chemotherapy, long-term steroids, HIV, leukemia)
- You have had sinus symptoms continuously for more than 12 weeks
- You have forehead swelling/puffiness, vision changes, bulging eye, severe headache with stiff neck/light sensitivity, or new facial weakness/numbness
- Your symptoms have NOT been getting worse or staying the same for more than 10 days
Infected Insect Bite
1+ yearAn infected insect bite can cause pain, swelling, and redness. Our pharmacists can assess the bite and provide appropriate treatment to prevent complications.
What are the symptoms of an infected insect bite?
- Redness spreading from the bite
- Swelling around the bite area
- Pain or tenderness
- Warmth around the bite
- Pus or discharge
Common causes
- Mosquito bites
- Midge bites
- Flea bites
- Bee or wasp stings
If you have signs of a severe allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, swelling of face/throat), call 999 immediately.
This service may not be suitable if:
- You or the patient is under 1 year old
- The bite was from an animal or another person, is a tick bite with a bullseye rash, or occurred outside the UK
- Less than 48 hours (2 days) have passed since the bite occurred
- The area does NOT have at least 3 of these signs: redness, pain/tenderness, swelling, or warmth
Impetigo
1+ yearImpetigo is a common and highly contagious skin infection that causes sores and blisters. Our pharmacists can provide treatment to help clear the infection.
What are the symptoms of impetigo?
- Red sores that quickly burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches
- Itchy rash
- Fluid-filled blisters
- Sores commonly around the nose and mouth
Common causes
- Bacterial infection (usually staphylococcus or streptococcus)
- Close contact with infected person
- Broken skin from cuts, insect bites, or eczema
If the infection is spreading rapidly or not responding to treatment, we will recommend seeing your GP.
This service may not be suitable if:
- You or the patient is under 1 year old
- The sores are filled with fluid or forming blisters (impetigo usually has golden/honey-colored crusty patches)
- You or the patient has had impetigo 2+ times in the last 12 months
- You or the patient has a weakened immune system (chemotherapy, long-term steroids, HIV, leukemia) or the rash covers a large body area
- You or the patient is allergic to penicillin
Shingles
18+ yearsShingles is a painful rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Our pharmacists can assess your symptoms and provide treatment to help manage the condition.
What are the symptoms of shingles?
- Painful rash on one side of the body
- Tingling or burning sensation before the rash appears
- Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
- Itching
- Fever and headache
Common causes
- Reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster)
- Weakened immune system
- Stress
- Aging
If the rash is on or near your eye, or if you have severe symptoms, we will advise you to seek immediate medical attention.
This service may not be suitable if:
- You are under 18 years old
- You are currently pregnant
- You have a rash on or around your nose, vision problems (blurring/eye pain), or unexplained red eye
- Your rash first appeared more than 7 days ago
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Women 16–64A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system. Our pharmacists can assess your symptoms and provide appropriate treatment without the need to see your GP.
What are the symptoms of a UTI?
- Pain or burning sensation when urinating
- Needing to urinate more often than usual
- Feeling like you need to urinate urgently
- Cloudy, dark or strong-smelling urine
- Pain in your lower abdomen
- Feeling generally unwell, achy or tired
Common causes
- Bacteria entering the urinary tract
- Not emptying your bladder fully
- Wiping from back to front after using the toilet
- Sexual activity
If you have back pain, fever, or feel very unwell, we will advise you to seek urgent medical care as you may have a kidney infection.
This service may not be suitable if:
- You are not between 16 and 64 years old
- You are currently pregnant
- You have a urinary catheter
- You have had 2+ urine infections in the last 6 months, or 3+ in the last 12 months
- You have pain/tenderness in your back or side (below ribs), uncontrollable shivering, high temperature (37.9°C+), nausea/vomiting, or flu-like aching muscles
- You have unusual vaginal discharge
- You are trying to get pregnant or pregnancy is a possibility in the near future
Quick answers
Is this service free?
Yes, NHS Pharmacy First is completely free. There are no charges for the consultation or any treatment provided through this service.
Do I need an appointment?
Walk-ins are welcome, but booking ahead helps us serve you more efficiently. You can book online or call us to reserve a convenient time slot.
How long does a consultation take?
Most consultations take 10-15 minutes. We'll take the time needed to properly assess your condition and provide appropriate treatment or advice.
What if I'm not sure which condition I have?
That's fine! Our pharmacists can help determine if Pharmacy First is suitable for you. If we can't help through this service, we'll advise you on the best next steps.
Will my information be kept private?
Yes, all consultations are completely confidential. We have private consultation rooms where you can speak with our pharmacist in confidence.
Who will I speak to?
ConfidentialWhen you use this service, you will speak to one of our pharmacists or trained pharmacy team members in branch.
Our pharmacists are highly qualified healthcare professionals who are equipped with the knowledge and appropriate equipment to assess your symptoms and provide accurate, trustworthy advice and medicines for the treatment of minor illnesses.
Any information you provide is treated in confidence. Consultations are carried out with privacy and discretion, and private consultation rooms are available when needed.