Getting Help From a Pharmacy: What To Do
Community pharmacists, who can assess and treat a defined set of conditions without a GP appointment.
Last revised
For several common problems the pharmacy is now the intended first stop rather than the fallback, and no appointment is needed.
Key takeaways
- Appointment: not needed; pharmacists advise without one
- Pharmacy First: in England, pharmacists can treat seven common conditions directly
- Most useful single change: Go to the pharmacy first for the seven conditions above rather than waiting for a GP appointment.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming the pharmacist cannot help because there is no appointment system.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Do
- Go to the pharmacy first for the seven conditions above rather than waiting for a GP appointment
- Ask for the consultation room if you would rather not talk at the counter
- Take a list of your medicines, including anything bought over the counter
- Ask the pharmacist to check for interactions when you start something new
Do not
- Assuming the pharmacist cannot help because there is no appointment system
- Buying the same active ingredient in two products at once
- Leaving a symptom to a pharmacy when it has been going on for weeks
The figures behind the list
Each item above follows from these, published in the guidance named at the foot of the page.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Appointment | not needed; pharmacists advise without one |
| Pharmacy First | in England, pharmacists can treat seven common conditions directly |
| Conditions covered | sore throat, earache, sinusitis, impetigo, shingles, infected insect bites, and uncomplicated urinary infection in women aged 16 to 64 |
| Cost | advice is free; normal prescription charges may apply to anything supplied |
Where to go next
- Getting Help From a Pharmacy: What the Evidence Actually Says
- What Getting Help From a Pharmacy Is, and Why It Matters
- Getting Help From a Pharmacy — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Registering With a GP, Without the Hype
- When to Go to A&E: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to get help
A pharmacist will refer you on rather than treat if symptoms suggest something more serious. Go straight to a GP or 111 for a high fever with confusion, a rash that does not fade under pressure, severe or spreading pain, or symptoms that have not settled as expected.
Where this comes from
- NHS — Pharmacy First
- General Pharmaceutical Council — Standards for pharmacy professionals
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.