Get help from a pharmacy

You can get help and clinical advice from your local pharmacy. It's fast, free and you don't need an appointment.

Before you go to the pharmacy

You may want to contact the pharmacy to find out how they can help.

How pharmacies can help

Advice

Pharmacists are health professionals with clinical training. They can offer advice on a range of illnesses and medicines, including coughs and colds.

Medicines

Pharmacists can also give you medicine for some conditions - you don't need to see a GP first. These conditions are:

  • earache
  • impetigo
  • infected insect bites
  • shingles
  • sinusitis
  • sore throat
  • urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Your local pharmacy can also dispose of any old medicines safely.

Contraception

Many pharmacies also offer contraception services. This may include:

  • the contraceptive pill (for free and without a prescription)
  • the emergency contraceptive pill.

Blood pressure checks and more

Some pharmacies offer a free blood pressure check.

Many pharmacies offer a variety of other services. For further information on how a pharmacy can help you, see the NHS website:

Request an appointment at the surgery

If the services above are not suitable, you can request an appointment at the surgery.