NHS Pharmacy First Service

Get same-day NHS appointments* with our pharmacists for common conditions with the NHS Pharmacy First Service.

*Appointments subject to availability.

What is Pharmacy First?

The NHS Pharmacy First scheme allows pharmacists to provide patients in England with clinical advice and suitable treatments for seven common health conditions, without needing to see a GP.

This service covers conditions including:

  • Acute otitis media*
  • Sinusitis
  • Sore throat
  • Infected insect bites
  • Impetigo
  • Shingles
  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

With our online Pharmacy First Service, you can speak to one of our pharmacists, who will ask more about your symptoms and issue the best treatment. If a prescription treatment is required, you can order from our online pharmacy for delivery.

*Distance selling pharmacies will not complete consultations for acute otitis media.

pharmacy first service

How Our Online Pharmacy First Service Works

Select Your Condition

If you know the condition you need advice or treatment for, select it below. If you're unsure, review the symptoms for each listed below before selecting.

Book Your Appointment

Fill in a few details about you and your symptoms. If you meet the criteria for Pharmacy First, you can book a date and time to speak to one of our pharmacists.

Attend Virtual Consultation

We'll send you an e-mail with all the information you need to attend your virtual appointment to discuss your symptoms and treatment options.

Get Your Treatment

If needed, our pharmacist will issue prescription medicine which we can deliver directly to your door.

Pharmacy First Common Conditions

Select from the common conditions below to book an appointment with our licensed pharmacists.

Impetigo

A highly contagious skin infection that causes red sores  on the face and hands.

Infected Insect Bites

Infected insect bites become red, swollen, and filled with pus, often causing pain.

Shingles

A painful rash typically appearing as a band of blisters on one side of the body or face.

Sinusitis

Swelling of the sinuses, usually caused by a viral infection, that leads to facial pain and a blocked nose.

Sore Throat

A painful, dry, or scratchy feeling in the throat, often caused by inflammation.

Urinary Tract Infections

Infections in the urinary system that cause pain or discomfort when passing urine.

Common Condition Symptoms

Common symptoms of impetigo include:

  • Red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days, and then form a yellowish-brown crust, primarily around the nose and mouth but can spread to other parts of the body.
  • Itching and soreness.

Common symptoms of infected insect bites include:

  • Increased redness
  • Swelling, pain, warmth around the bite
  • Pus oozing from the infection site
  • Sometimes, you may experience a high temperature or swollen lymph nodes

Common symptoms of shingles include:

  • A painful and itchy rash on one side of the face or body.
  • Blistering
  • Sensitivity to touch
  • A high temperature
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue

Common symptoms of sinusitis include:

  • Blocked or runny nose
  • Facial pain or pressure
  • Reduced sense of smell
  • Headaches
  • A high temperature
  • Bad breath

Common symptoms of a sore throat include:

  • Pain or scratchy sensation in the throat
  • Pain that worsens with swallowing or talking
  • Dry throat
  • Swollen glands in the neck or jaw
  • Red tonsils
  • White patches or pus on the tonsils
  • Hoarseness or loss of voice

Common symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) include:

  • A strong, persistent urge to urinate
  • A burning sensation when urinating
  • Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
  • Cloudy urine
  • Red, bright pink or cola-coloured urine, which can be a sign of blood in your urine
  • Strong-smelling urine
  • Pelvic pain, especially in the centre of the pelvis and around the pubic bone

Pharmacy First FAQs

If you think you’ve got one of the six conditions we treat online and you meet the criteria, Pharmacy First gives you quicker access to treatment

You can book an appointment as soon as 1 hour after filling in the form online, providing we still have availability. If you are eligible to use the Pharmacy First Service, you will be able to book the soonest times we have available.

Each condition our pharmacists can treat as part of the Pharmacy First Service has different criteria you need to meet to be eligible for an appointment.

If you are not eligible, you will be advised when trying to book an appointment that you need to visit your GP or attend A&E for more suitable treatment options.

Our pharmacists provide Pharmacy First appointments Monday to Friday between 10.30am – 12.30pm.

Pharmacy First is an NHS service and any prescriptions issued by our pharmacists will be under the NHS prescriptions service. If you are exempt from paying for NHS prescriptions, you won’t need to pay for your prescription medication.

If our pharmacist decides treatment is right for you, we’ll supply your medication through our online pharmacy service and send it by discreet tracked delivery straight to your door.

More From Our Online Clinic

Looking for something else? Browse our online clinic to see all treatments available, or search for a condition or treatment below.