Your Local Pharmacy Services
Pharmacists are trained experts in managing minor illnesses and using medicines safely. They can advise you on the safe use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines too. Most local pharmacies have private consultation rooms where your pharmacist can talk to you confidentially. From 31 January 2024 the pharmacy first service was launched, meaning patients can now visit without a GP appointment, for seven common conditions which are listed below:
- Shingles - 18 years and over
- Sore throat - 5 years and over
- Infected insect bites - 1 year and over
- Earaches in children 1 to 17 years
- Sinusitis - 12 years and over
- Impetigo - 1 year and over
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in women 16 to 64 years
Please note that in some cases, those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, immunocompromised or who have recurring problems may not be eligible for treatment at a pharmacy.
So how does it work?
This scheme builds on the great work pharmacies already do in our community to support you in managing minor illnesses at home.
For the seven health conditions above, pharmacists will have a private conversation with a patient to see if they can help them manage their condition through self-care. If this is not helping then in some cases (if appropriate) the pharmacist will be able to provide medicines to help treat the illness following the consultation.
Why is this a positive step?
This is great for patients as it means they can potentially get seen and treated in a local pharmacy without the need to make an appointment with their GP surgery.
It also frees up GP surgery appointments so practices can focus on managing patients with more complex health needs.
Can I use the service now?
The scheme launched on 31 January 2024 and it may take a few weeks for the service to settle in and start up, so if you do choose to use it, please be kind to staff who are getting used to changes too. The pharmacy you visit will be able to best advise on how they can help.
How do I find my nearest Pharmacy?
Across the Frimley Health and Care system we are thrilled to say that 98% of community pharmacies have signed up to offer this service. This means its likely that your local pharmacy does too. No matter where you are in the country you can use this link to find your closest pharmacy, including those with late night opening. Find a pharmacy near you.
How else can my local pharmacy help me?
More and more people are now using their local pharmacy as a first port of call for a range of health reasons. Many pharmacies can support you to stop smoking, offer blood pressure checks, can support women who feel they may have a urinary tract infection and can advise on medications and vaccinations. You can find more specific information on the UTI and Blood pressure services from the drop down boxes below.
Hear from Chief Pharmacist, Yousaf Ahmad, about the services community pharmacies can provide and how they can help you and your family is so many different ways. Click this link or the image below to play.
