Advice from a pharmacist

Pharmacists can offer advice on a range of illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections and aches and pains.

They can also give advice about medicines. This includes how to use your medicine, worries about side effects or any other questions you have.

If they cannot help you themselves, they can refer you to a GP or other health professional.

Treatment from a pharmacist

Pharmacists can suggest treatments that do not need a prescription for a range of conditions.

Most pharmacies can also offer prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP or make an appointment. This is called Pharmacy First.

Conditions they can offer prescription medicine for are:

impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
urinary tract infections (UTIs) (women aged 16 to 64 years)
shingles (aged 18 years and over)

Some pharmacies can offer treatment for more conditions and give you prescription medicine if needed. These are called prescribing pharmacies.

They may be able to help you with:

acne (aged 12 years and over)
outer ear infection (aged 18 years and over)
hay fever (aged 3 to 11 years)
migraine (aged 18 years and over)
scabies (aged 1 year and over)
some other skin infections (aged 12 years and over)

If you are not within these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice and support decisions about self-care treatment with medicines you can buy from a pharmacy, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.

If you go to a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will:

check your symptoms
offer you advice and treatment, or refer you to a GP or other health professional if needed
inform your GP so your health record can be updated

Not all pharmacies can offer treatment for every condition, so you should contact them before visiting to check.

Find a pharmacy

Disposing of old medicines

If your medicine is out of date or unwanted, do not put it in the bin or flush it down the toilet. Take it to your pharmacy to be disposed of safely.

Help with new medicines

When you're prescribed a medicine for the first time, depending on the condition being treated, a pharmacist may be able to give you additional help and advice about your medicine.

You can have up to 3 appointments with a pharmacist either in person or on the phone to:

answer any questions you have
help you use the medicine safely
make sure that the medicine is right for you

Get help with newly prescribed medicines

Getting the contraceptive pill without a prescription

Some pharmacies may offer the contraceptive pill for free without a prescription. If you are aged 18 years or older, you can also buy the progesterone-only pill from most pharmacies.

Find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription

Emergency contraception

Some pharmacies offer the emergency contraceptive pill for free. If you’re aged 16 or over, you can also buy it from most pharmacies.

Find out about emergency contraception

Get a free blood pressure check

Some pharmacies offer a free blood pressure check.
Find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks

More services

Other services that may be available at a local pharmacy include:

advice from a pharmacist after contacting NHS 111 or a GP
chlamydia screening and treatment
advice and help on how to stop smoking
cholesterol and blood sugar testing
the substance misuse service, including needle and syringe exchange schemes
advice and help on how to manage your weight

Ask a local pharmacist to find out what services they offer.