Community pharmacy

All pharmacists are part of the NHS, they train for a minimum of five years and are experts in medicines use and providing health and wellbeing advice.

The video below has more information about community pharmacies and how they can help.

If your symptoms suggest something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example, they will tell you if you need to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional.

Some pharmacies are open until late and at weekends, and many have a quiet area where you can talk to a pharmacist in private.

Pharmacy First

Community pharmacies can offer treatment for minor illnesses and seven other common conditions without you needing to see a GP. 

These are: 

• 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) 

You do not need an appointment and you can speak to the pharmacist privately. Community pharmacists will signpost you to other local services where necessary. 

Find a community pharmacy near you using our interactive map:

Other services provided by community pharmacies

Community pharmacies can help you with other things too, including advice on medicines, disposing of old medicines and help with new ones. 

You can also find a pharmacy that can help with: 

• NHS flu vaccinations 
• Book or manage a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy 
• Getting the contraceptive pill without prescription 
• Free blood pressure checks 

Emergency medicines

Some people may take specialist medication, for example palliative care medicines. These medicines are not normally kept in stock at pharmacies. The documents below will tell you which emergency medicines are in stock in which pharmacies.

Emergency medicine stock list (336kB)

Immediate access to emergency medicines (353kB)