Skip to main content

Think Pharmacy First

Your local pharmacy should be your first port of call, and your Primary Choice, for healthcare advice and treatment for minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, headaches and diarrhoea.

Your local pharmacy is able to do so much more than dispense your prescription medication, they are able to offer advice, treatment and a range of NHS clinical services that are all free from the moment you access them, without the need to see your GP.

Going to your local pharmacy offers an easy and convenient way to get clinical advice on minor health concerns, and now community pharmacies can offer treatment for seven common conditions without patients needing to see a GP, as part of a major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care.

Highly trained pharmacists at more than nine in ten pharmacies can now assess and treat patients for earache, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women aged 16-64 — without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.

Community pharmacy teams are highly-skilled, qualified health professionals who have the right clinical training to give people the health advice they need. Patients don’t need an appointment and private consultation rooms are available. Pharmacy teams can also signpost to other relevant local services where necessary.

Pharmacists have always helped patients, families and carers in their communities stay healthy and are well placed to offer treatment for health conditions. By expanding the services community pharmacies offer, the NHS is aiming to free up GP appointments and give people more choice in how and where they access care.

Don’t wait for minor health concerns to get worse – think pharmacy first and get seen by your local pharmacy team.

For more information, visit nhs.uk/thinkpharmacyfirst

Services that may be available in your Community Pharmacy include:

To find your Local Pharmacy within Cardiff & Vale, visit Community Pharmacies - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (nhs.wales)

 

Independent Prescribers Service

A number of groups of healthcare professionals other than doctors and dentists are, subject to completing additional training, are now able to prescribe medicines for patients as Independent Prescribers. These healthcare professionals are collectively referred to as non-medical prescribers (NMPs). Independent prescribers are responsible and accountable for the assessment of patients with previously undiagnosed or diagnosed conditions and for decisions about the clinical management required, including prescribing.

The Pharmacist Independent Prescriber Service enables patients to get assessed and treated for conditions such as ear infections, skin infections or UTIs at your local community pharmacy. This is all without the need to see a GP.

Click here for more information about Independent Prescribers, and to see which local Pharmacies offer this service.

Share: