Pharmacy First Service
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What is NHS Pharmacy First?
The Pharmacy First scheme is an NHS initiative designed to offer professional healthcare advice and, treatment for 7 common illnesses through your local pharmacy.
NHS Pharmacy First is an England-only service providing professional healthcare advice and, if appropriate, treatment for 7 common illnesses at community pharmacies.
How Pharmacy First can help you
Pharmacy First provides easy access to prompt advice and treatment including prescription medicines, where appropriate, for seven common conditions. Here is the list of common conditions covered alongside the age criteria:
· Sinusitis (12 years and over)
· Sore throat (5 years and over)
· Earache (1–17 years)
· Infected insect bites and stings (1 year and older)
· Impetigo (1 year and older)
· Shingles (18 years and over)
· Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women (16-64 years)
Please note other eligibility criteria apply. If you are outside of the criteria a pharmacist may still be able to provide advice and care such as suggesting an over-the-counter treatment or if required refer you to another healthcare provider.
How to access Pharmacy First
Step 1 - Simply walk into a participating Boots Pharmacy & ask for help. Or you may have been referred by an NHS provider, like NHS 111, or your GP practice.
Step 2 - Our pharmacist will take a few details & assess your condition
Step 3 - Our pharmacist will talk to you about the most suitable next steps based on your condition & symptoms presented. This may include prescription treatment, informing you about pharmacy medicines, (the ones that are kept behind the counter) or an in-store product that could help.
What conditions can Pharmacy First help with?
What are the symptoms of cystitis?
Cystitis is a common urinary tract infection, where the bladder becomes inflamed. Symptoms of cystitis can show suddenly & include stinging or burning when you pee, peeing more urgently & frequently, your urine being a darker or cloudy colour, or urine having a strong smell. Cystitis may cause tummy pain & make you feel generally unwell.
Our pharmacists can offer advice & treatment for cystitis, including prescription treatment for women aged 16-64, where appropriate. For catheter wearers please contact your GP if you suspect you have a UTI.
What are the symptoms of earache?
Earaches are commom, espeically in children. It can be a burning, sharp or dull ear pain that either comes & goes or is constant. It can affect one ear or both.
Our pharmacists can provide advice & treatment for earache, which includes prescription treatment for individuals ages 1-17 years where appropriate.
What are the symptoms of sinusitis?
Sinusitis, is the inflammation & swelling of the lining of the sinuses. Symptoms of sinusitis can vary in severity; common symptoms include: a blocked nose, green or yellow mucus from your nose, pain & tenderness around your eyes, cheeks or forehead, a sinus headache, a fever (a high temperature of 38C or more, toothache, reduced sense of smell, or bad breath (halitosis).
Our pharmacists can offer advice & treatment for sinusitus, including prescription treatment, for individuals 12 years & over, where appropriate.
What are the symptoms of a sore throat?
A sore throat is very common & can cause irritation & pain when swallowing. Sore throats are usually caused by viruses like a cold or the flu, smoking or occasionally bacteria. Other symptoms of a sore throat may include: a dry, scratchy throat, redness in the back of your mouth, bad breath, a mild cough, swollen & red tonsils & swollen glands in your neck.
Our pharmacists can offer advice & treatment for sore throats, including prescription treatment for individuals aged 5 years & over where appropriate.
What are the symptoms of shingles?
Shingles occur when a nerve becomes infected, causing a painful rash on the skin around it. Symptoms of shingles include pain in the affected area, followed by a rash that develops days later. This rash will only appear on one side of your body, if there is a rash on both sides it’s unlikely to be shingles. The rash may develop into itchy blisters that may ooze fluid. New blisters can appear for up to a week.
Our pharmacists can offer advice & treatment for shingles, including prescription treatment for individuals aged 18 & over, where appropriate.
What are the symptoms of impetigo?
Impetigo is a contagious skin infection which usually begins as red sores or blisters, (it can be harder to see on brown or black skin). It normally appears on exposed areas of skin like your hands or around the mouth & nose. Eventually, these sores burst, leaving crusty, golden-brown patches. These patches may get bigger, spread to other parts of the body, become itchy or mildly painful.
Our pharmacists can offer advice & treatment for impetigo, which includes prescription treatment for individuals aged 1 & over where appropriate.
What are the symptoms of infected bite or sting?
Experiencing a bite or sting from an insect is common & it’s normal to experience some itching or pain when this happens, but occasionally a bite or sting can lead to an allergic reaction or infection. If you have an infected bite or sting you may have the following symptoms: redness of the skin, pain or tenderness & swelling with skin feeling hot to the touch.
Our pharmacists can offer advice & treatment for bites & stings, which includes prescription treatment for individuals aged 1 year & over, where appropriate.
Scotland - Pharmacy First Service
Wales - Common Ailment Service
Northern Ireland - Pharmacy First Service
Boots stores that offer Pharmacy First will provide advice and, if suitable, recommend appropriate treatment based on the condition and the symptoms; this could include a course of an antibiotic if deemed appropriate.
While consultations are free, charges may apply for treatment.
3 Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria may apply.
12 Please note free home postal delivery is only available to patients registered with a GP in England. However, the option to collect in-store is available for all customers registered with a participating GP anywhere in the UK. For patients registered with a participating GP surgery only. Subject to availability. Prescription charges may apply.
32 Supply of treatment is subject to a suitability assessment. In most stores in England only. Subject to availability and store opening hours. Charges may apply.
