The Chestnuts Surgery

Pharmacy First

Think Pharmacy First

Most pharmacies in England are now providing the NHS Pharmacy First service. This service allows pharmacists to provide advice and where appropriate, supply NHS medicines for a number of conditions.

  • How can Pharmacies help
  • What conditions can they treat
  • GP referral to Pharmacy First
  • How to nominate a Pharmacy

How can Pharmacies help

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).

What conditions can they treat

As part of the Pharmacy First service Pharmacists can treat:

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

If you go to a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or other healthcare professional if needed.

They will then 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.


How to nominate a Pharmacy

You can nominate a pharmacy through:

  • The NHS App
  • Patient Online Services
  • During a consultation with one of our clinicians or by speaking to our reception team.

Find a pharmacy

Use this handy NHS tool to search for a local pharmacy.

Find a Pharmacy