Advice and Treatment
Pharmacists can give you advice on a range of conditions and suggest medicines that can help.
They may also be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP (this is called Pharmacy First). Conditions they can treat as part of Pharmacy First are:
- earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
- impetigo (aged 1 year and over)- a contagious skin infection
- infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
- shingles (aged 18 years and over)- infection that causes a painful rash
- sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)- infection of the sinuses (behind the forehead, cheeks and nose)
- sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
- urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)
The pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or another healthcare professional if needed.
Pharmacies will update your GP health record.
If you are not within these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.
Please note on weekends online self-referral may take longer as the practice is closed and will not look at your assessment till we are open, for quicker response please walk into your local pharmacy.
Other Services Available at Pharmacies
As well as the above Minor Illness services, Pharmacies can also offer you:
Contraception Services
You may be able to obtain the contraceptive pill from a pharmacy if you need to:
- Start it for the first time
- Resume taking it after a break
If you already have a prescription, you can continue using it as usual. Alternatively, you can choose to get the pill from a pharmacy without a prescription.
Get a Free Blood Pressure Check
You can have your blood pressure checked for free at a pharmacy without needing to see a GP if you:
- Are aged 40 or over
- Live in England
You are not eligible for a free check if you:
- Already have high blood pressure
- Had your blood pressure checked by a healthcare professional within the last 6 months
Find a Pharmacy
NHS App for Ordering Prescriptions
We highly advise for your convenience that you download and create an account on the NHS App. On the app you can quickly request your repeat medication. Below is a short Youtube video on how to request your medication via the NHS App.
Emergency Medication Supplies
If Central Surgery is closed and for any reason you have run out of your regularly prescribed, repeat prescription then please follow the link below. Please note you cannot use this service to get antibiotics or a controlled drug, instead call 111 and speak to an advisor.