NHS Pharmacy First: Get Treatment Without Waiting for a GP

Did you know you can get advice and treatment for seven common conditions directly from your local pharmacy, without needing to book a GP appointment?

Under the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, pharmacists can provide advice, clinical assessments, and—where appropriate—prescribe NHS prescription-only medicines (including antibiotics) to treat these specific conditions.

What Conditions Can the Pharmacy Treat?

The pharmacy can assess and treat the following seven conditions for specific age groups:

How Does It Work?

• No Appointment Needed: Just walk into any participating local community pharmacy. Alternatively, our reception team or NHS 111 may refer you directly.

• Private Consultation: You will speak with a pharmacist in a private consultation room.

• Expert Assessment: The pharmacist will assess your symptoms. If they determine you need treatment, they can supply the appropriate medication on the spot.

• GP Notification: The pharmacist will send a secure digital notification back to our surgery so your patient record is kept up-to-date.

What does it cost?

The consultation is completely free. If the pharmacist prescribes a medicine, standard NHS prescription charges will apply (currently £9.90 per item) unless you are normally exempt from prescription charges.

When Should I Still Contact the GP Surgery?

While the Pharmacy First scheme is fantastic for quick, local treatment, you should still contact us or use our online consultation triage if:

• Your symptoms do not match the seven conditions listed above.

• You do not fit the age brackets specified for the conditions.

• You are pregnant (for UTIs) or have recurrent infections.

• The pharmacist assesses you and advises that you need to be escalated to a GP.

Find a Participating Pharmacy Near You

Most community pharmacies in our local area are signed up for this service.

• Use the Find a pharmacy - NHS to find your nearest location and check their opening hours.

💊 Free Contraception Directly From Your Pharmacy

Yes, absolutely! You can now bypass the GP surgery completely and get the contraceptive pill, as well as emergency contraception, for free directly from your local community pharmacy.

Under the expanded NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service, trained pharmacists can help you start, continue, or change your oral contraceptive pill without a GP appointment or prescription. 🩺

🌟 What Can the Pharmacy Do?

Your local participating pharmacy can provide the following services in a private, confidential consultation room:

• 🚀 Start the Pill (Initiation): If you want to start taking the contraceptive pill for the first time, or restart taking it after a break, a pharmacist can assess you and prescribe it.

• 🔄 Repeat Supplies: If you are already on the pill and just need a top-up, they can perform your routine health checks (like blood pressure and BMI) and issue your next supply.

• 🚨 Emergency Contraception: If you need the "morning-after pill," pharmacies can supply this free of charge and offer expert, non-judgmental advice.

📋 Who is Eligible?

To access oral contraception directly from the pharmacy, you must be of childbearing potential and fall into the following age brackets:

• Combined Pill (COC): Aged from menarche (your first period) up to 49 years old.

• Progestogen-Only Pill (POP / "The Mini-Pill"): Aged from menarche up to 54 years old (or up to 49 years old for the Drospirenone-only pill).

⚠️ Note: If you take the contraceptive pill for non-contraceptive reasons—such as managing acne, heavy periods, or endometriosis—you will still need to have your prescriptions managed by our GP team.

❓ How It Works

1. Find a Pharmacy: Most community pharmacies in Oldham offer this service, but it is always best to call ahead or check online to ensure they are participating. 👉 https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/find-a-pharmacy-offering-contraceptive-pill-without-prescription/

2. Confidential Consultation: A pharmacist or trained pharmacy technician will take you into a private room. They will ask about your medical history, check your blood pressure, and calculate your BMI to make sure the pill is safe for you.

3. Get Your Medication: If appropriate, they will supply your pills free of charge. With your consent, they will securely update our GP records so your medical file remains up to date.