New Service

NHS Pharmacy First Service

Get same-day NHS appointments* with our pharmacists for common conditions with the new 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 six common health conditions, without needing to see a GP.

This new service covers conditions including:

  • Sinusitis
  • Sore throat
  • Infected insect bites
  • Impetigo
  • Shingles
  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Pharmacy First Service

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 or we can issue a prescription for your local pharmacy.

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. Alternatively, you can fill your issued prescription to a local pharmacy.

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

A bacterial infection causing discomfort from inflammation of the sinuses.

Sore Throat

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

Urinary Tract Infections

UTIs are infections in the urinary system that lead to 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 shingles 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-colored urine — indicating blood in the urine
  • Strong-smelling urine
  • Pelvic pain, in women — especially in the center of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone

Pharmacy First FAQs

If you think you are suffering from one of the six common conditions listed above, and you meet the criteria, the Pharmacy First Service can provide easier 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.

You can choose to order your prescription medication through our online pharmacy service, or our pharmacists can issue you a prescription that you can fill at a local pharmacy.

Looking for more treatment options for different conditions? Our Online Clinic can provide private prescriptions from licensed pharmacists in the UK, delivered directly to your door.

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