What a pharmacist can treat without a GP appointment
People still queue for a GP appointment for problems a pharmacist can deal with the same day. Since the NHS Pharmacy First service started, community pharmacies in England can assess and, where appropriate, treat seven conditions without you seeing a doctor first.
The seven conditions
- Sore throat, from age 5
- Earache, age 1 to 17
- Sinusitis, from age 12
- Impetigo, from age 1
- Infected insect bites, from age 1
- Shingles, from age 18
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women aged 16 to 64
What happens in the consultation
You are seen in the consultation room, not at the counter. The pharmacist asks about your symptoms, how long you have had them, and what else you take, then examines you where that is relevant. Antibiotics are not automatic: national criteria decide when they help and when they do not.
What it costs
The consultation is free. If you are given a prescription medicine you pay the normal NHS prescription charge, or nothing if you are exempt.
When we send you elsewhere
If your symptoms fall outside the service, or something suggests a more serious problem, the pharmacist tells you and directs you to your GP, NHS 111 or urgent care. Saying so is part of the job, not a failure of it.