Get support and advice on 7 common illnesses from your nearest pharmacy
Skip the queues at your GP and get quicker, more convenient NHS care from clinically-trained pharmacists
Helping you to stay well and avoid long waits at your GP or in A&E, Pharmacy First will allow you to get health advice from our expert pharmacists. They can then provide NHS treatments for illnesses including:
What are the benefits of Pharmacy First?
With treatment and advice from you local pharmacist, Pharmacy First is an NHS service that helps you get the medical attention you want when you need it. Where appropriate, our pharmacist will prescribe medication to help treat your symptoms.
Our GPhC-registered pharmacists are trained to diagnose and treat the symptoms covered by the Pharmacy First service. They can advice you on best-practices for self-treatment if they are unable to prescribe a medicine for you.
Book an appointment online or simply head into to your nearest pharmacy so our team can support you with your concerns.
Using Pharmacy First comes at no extra cost to you. Normal prescription charges apply. Exemptions still apply.
Who is eligible for Pharmacy First?
Pharmacy First is only available for people who live in England. Age restrictions will apply for some of the services offered as part of the programme.
Pharmacy First allows patients in England to speak to pharmacists about common conditions. Your pharmacist will ask you a few questions to check whether you're eligible for the service.
Check the age restrictions for the 7 conditions covered.
| Service | Age restriction |
|---|---|
| Earache |
1 to 17 years old
|
| Impetigo |
1 year and older |
| Infected insect bites |
1 year and older |
| Shingles | 18 years and older |
| Sinusitis | 12 years and older |
| Sore throat | 5 years and older |
| Urinary tract infections | 16 to 64 years old |
If you are based in Scotland, you can access the Pharmacy First Scotland service.
If you are based in Wales, the Common Ailments Service can help you get help for minor illnesses.
How Pharmacy First works
It's easy to get a Pharmacy First appointment with your local pharmacist. In a few short steps, you can get a diagnosis and treatment.
Use the Well Finder to locate your closest pharmacy or book an appointment online. When you arrive, ask one of our pharmacy team about our Pharmacy First service.
You will have a confidential consultation with one of our pharmacists. They will discuss your symptoms with you and suggest treatments that can you buy or have prescribed.
Pharmacy First is an express service, so you can start using your NHS treatment or over-the-counter medicine as soon as your pharmacist has recommended it. You may be given self-care advice where medication isn’t appropriate.
Learn more about Pharmacy First
Pharmacy First will help you get seen by a healthcare professional quickly.
Instead of waiting for a GP appointment, going to A&E or attending out-of-hours NHS services, you can walk into your nearest Well Pharmacy and have a private consultation with one of our pharmacists whenever you need to. You can also book an appointment online at a pharmacy near you
Pharmacy First will allow you to self-treat minor ailments and reduce the time you spend at your GP surgery.
Pharmacists have a range of clinical skills, and they will be able to provide accurate clinical advice without the hassle and waiting times that you might experience using other NHS services like A&E.
If it turns out you need treatment from a GP, your pharmacist can also refer you to them.
If you are exempt from paying for prescriptions, you should show your pharmacists evidence of this when you speak to them. They will need it if they recommend any medicines to treat your symptoms.
Our pharmacist will want to understand:
This will help them recommend treatments and medicines that will work for you.
Video consultations are available for our customers who use our NHS repeat prescription service.
Download our app in the App Store or on Google Play to start enjoying free prescription delivery and to speak to our pharmacy team online.
