Pharmacy First

Patients can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.

The Pharmacy First scheme was launched by the government and NHS England on 31 January 2024 to give patients quick and accessible care and ease pressure on GP services.

Sinusitis
Sore throat
Earache
Infected insect bite
Impetigo (a bacterial skin infection)
Shingles
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.

What are the seven common conditions?

Find out more about these conditions below.

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FAQ's

You can get treatment for these conditions by walking into the pharmacy or contacting them virtually. GP receptionists, NHS 111 and providers of emergency care will also be able to direct patients to pharmacies, that offer the service, if contacted.

Usual prescription charges will apply for the seven common conditions. Patients that were already exempt from prescription charges will still be exempt.

How can I access treatment from Putney Pharmacy?

Will I have to pay for my medication?

What will happen when I arrive at Putney Pharmacy?

The pharmacist will be able to speak to you privately in a separate consultation room. They may perform an examination or ask to access your medical records. The pharmacist will be able to recommend the best course of action on an individual patient basis, including by issuing prescriptions for antibiotics or antivirals where necessary.

How else are you expanding pharmaceutical services?

From December 2023, thousands of women have been able to get their contraceptive pill from their local pharmacy, with up to 25% of all women on oral contraception being able to benefit from this new service. Pharmacists are also increasing the number of life-saving blood pressure checks given to at-risk patients over the next year, with a commitment to deliver 2.5 million a year by spring 2025 - up from 900,000 carried out last year. It is estimated this could prevent more than 1,350 heart attacks and strokes in the first year.

What if I still want to see my GP?

Patients can still choose to visit a GP if they wish to. Pharmacy First offers alternative access for these seven conditions and we encourage people to make the most of this service and to consult the highly trained professions in their local pharmacy. We are working to expand GP access, and have now delivered on our manifesto commitment for 50 million more general practice appointments per year. We are also growing the primary care workforce and we hit our target for 26,000 additional staff in primary care by March 2024 more than a year early.

Will Pharmacy First have an impact on anti-microbial resistance?

Anti-microbial resistance occurs when the body’s microbes no longer respond to medicines due to over-usage, making infections harder to treat. This scheme is not expected to result in larger volumes of antibiotics being prescribed, and patients will still undergo a consultation with a pharmacist before any medicine is dispensed. Medicine supply must be clinically appropriate and only after a shared discussion between the patient and pharmacist on the risks and benefits of taking the medicine, and of any alternative self-care options.

Ear Infections

Earache is common, particularly in young children. It can be painful, but is not usually a sign of anything serious.

Symptoms

Symptoms include pain inside the ear, a high temperature, being sick, a lack of energy, difficulty hearing, discharge running out of the ear and a feeling of pressure or fullness inside the ear. Young children may rub or pull their ear, not react to some sounds, be irritable or restless, be off their food and keep losing their balance

Common Causes

Earache is caused by inflammation or infection located in the middle ear. It can occur as a result of a cold, sore throat, or respiratory infection.

Common Treatments

Treatment options include getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, taking painkillers, administering ear drops and very occasionally antibiotics may be required.

Visit Putney Pharmacy on advice on Earache

If you or your child is under 18, a pharmacist can advise you about medicines that can help relieve the pain of an earache and other measures to take to ensure you feel more comfortable.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is the swelling of the sinuses, usually caused by an infection. It’s common after a cold or flu.

Symptoms

Symptoms of sinusitis include pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead, a blocked nose, a reduced sense of smell, green or yellow mucus from your nose, a sinus headache, a high temperature, toothache, and bad breath.

Common Causes

Sinusitis occurs when an infection causes the sinuses to swell. This can be a result of a virus like the common cold or flu spreading to the sinuses, or occasionally it can be caused by bacteria.

Common Treatments

Treatment options include getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, taking painkillers, avoiding allergic triggers and not smoking, cleaning your nose with a salt water solution to ease congestion.

Visit Putney Pharmacy

Our pharmacist can advise you about medicines that can help, such as decongestant nasal sprays or drops to unblock your nose, salt water nasal sprays or solutions to rinse out the inside of your nose. Occasionally, antibiotics may be required. Seeking advice and treatment for Sinusitis directly from your local Cohens Chemist will be more convenient than waiting for a GP appointment.

Expertise: Our pharmacists are healthcare professionals who have expert training and can provide valuable advice and appropriate treatment for Sinusitis.

Sore Throat

A sore throat is characterised by pain or irritation in the throat that can occur with or without swallowing.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a sore throat include a painful throat, especially when swallowing, a dry, scratchy throat, redness in the back of your mouth, bad breath, a mild cough and swollen neck glands.

Common Causes

Sore throats are usually caused by viruses (like cold or flu) or from smoking. Very occasionally they can be caused by bacteria.

Common Treatments

Treatments include paracetamol or ibuprofen, medicated lozenges containing a local anaesthetic, antiseptic, or anti-inflammatory medicine, and anaesthetic spray.

Very occasionally, antibiotics may be required. Other things that can help include gargling with warm, salty water, drinking plenty of water. Avoiding smoking or smoky places, sucking ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets.

Visit Putney Pharmacy.

Our pharmacist can advise you about ways of relieving the pain and discomfort of a sore throat, and recommend appropriate medications as outlined above.

Insect Bites

Infected insect bites occur when bacteria or other pathogens enter the body through the bite wound.

Symptoms

Symptoms of infected insect bites include increased redness, swelling, heat, pain, pus or discharge, itching, increased tenderness, and fever and malaise.

Common Causes

Infected insect bites can be caused by bacterial ingress, scratching, or infected insect vectors.

Common Treatments

Antibiotics are not required for most insect bites or stings, and your Putney Pharmacy will be able to provide over-the-counter treatment to help ease the symptoms, including topical creams to help with itching, and antihistamine tablets to reduce pain, swelling and itchiness. Occasionally oral antibiotics may be required to help clear up an infected insect bite.

Visit Putney Pharmacy on advice on Infected Insect Bites

Our pharmacist will be able to tell you what you can do to treat the bite yourself, if you can buy anything to help, or provide antibiotics if indicated by the pharmacist.

Impetigo

Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection that affects infants and children.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually begin as small red spots that gradually increase in size and number then manifest into sores and present as red/golden sores or blisters on the face, especially around the nose, mouth, on hands and feet.

Common Causes

The causes include infection by streptococcus or staphylococcus bacteria.

Common Treatments

Antibiotic cream usually clears this type of skin problem quickly. Antibiotic tablets or liquid medicines are sometimes needed.

Visit Putney Pharmacy on advice on Impetigo

Our pharmacist can advise you about the best treatment for impetigo and provide medicines that will help to clear up the infection.

Shingles

Shingles is a painful rash caused by an infection of a nerve underneath the skin with the varicella-zoster virus.

Symptoms

The symptoms of shingles include a tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin. Sometimes, a person with shingles may have a headache or feel generally unwell. A rash will usually appear a few days later. In rare cases shingles can cause pain without a rash.

Usually, the shingles rash appears on the chest and tummy, but it can appear anywhere on your body including on your face, eyes and genitals. The rash appears as blotches on your skin, on one side of your body only. A rash on both the left and right of your body is unlikely to be shingles.

Common Causes

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Common Treatments

Treatment for shingles can also include medicines to help relieve pain, such as painkillers, steroid tablets or medicines that help with nerve pain. Antivirals may be indicated.

Visit Putney Pharmacy for advice on Shingles

Our pharmacists are healthcare professionals who are experts in medicines. They can provide valuable advice and appropriate treatment for shingles, without the need for a GP appointment.

Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect your urinary tract, including your bladder (cystitis), urethra (urethritis) or kidneys (kidney infection).

Symptoms

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) may include pain or a burning sensation when peeing, needing to pee more often than usual, needing to pee more often than usual during the night (nocturia), needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual, pee that looks cloudy, or blood in your pee.

Common Causes

UTIs are usually caused by bacteria.

Common Treatments

UTIs may be treated with antibiotics, but they’re not always needed.

Visit Putney Pharmacy For Advice

Our pharmacists are healthcare professionals who are experts in medicines. They can provide valuable advice and appropriate treatment for uncomplicated UTIs without the need for a GP appointment.
Please note that this service is for uncomplicated UTIs and excludes women who are pregnant.

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Pharmacy First

What are the seven common conditions?