Think Pharmacy First
Your local pharmacist can assess and treat a range of common conditions, often without you needing a GP appointment or a prescription first.
Get seen faster for common conditions
Your pharmacy is one of the quickest places to get clinical advice for a minor health concern. Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals, trained for years in medicines and in managing everyday illnesses.
Most pharmacies now run the NHS Pharmacy First service. For seven common conditions, the pharmacist can assess you and, where it’s right for you, supply treatment. No GP appointment. No prescription needed first.
Seven conditions a pharmacist can treat
For these, a pharmacist can assess you and supply treatment where it’s appropriate. Age ranges apply:
- Impetigo (aged 1 and over)
- Infected insect bites (aged 1 and over)
- Earache (aged 1 to 17)
- Sore throat (aged 5 and over)
- Sinusitis (aged 12 and over)
- Urinary tract infections in women (aged 16 to 64)
- Shingles (aged 18 and over)
If you fall outside one of these age ranges, a pharmacist can still give advice and help you decide on over-the-counter treatment, or point you to a GP if you need one.
What to expect
You don’t need an appointment. Walk in and ask to speak to the pharmacist. There’s a private consultation room if you’d rather not talk at the counter.
The pharmacist will ask about your symptoms. If they can help, they’ll treat you there and then, supplying a prescription medicine if it’s needed. Normal NHS prescription charges apply if you usually pay for them. If you need a GP or another service, they’ll tell you and point you the right way. They also update your GP record afterwards, so we stay in the loop.
You can read more about what your pharmacy can do on the NHS website.
Why we point you here
Going to the pharmacy first usually means you’re seen sooner, and it frees up GP appointments for people who need them. Many pharmacies are open late and at weekends too, so it’s often the easier option.
Find a pharmacy near you
Use the NHS pharmacy finder for opening hours and locations close to Nantwich. It’s worth a quick call ahead to check the pharmacy can help with your condition.