Pharmacies and help with minor illness

What a pharmacist can help with

Pharmacists can advise about coughs, colds, aches, medicines and other minor health concerns. They can suggest self-care, explain treatments or direct you to another clinician. You do not usually need a GP appointment first. Describe symptoms and changes from the person’s usual health; a communication difficulty should not make new pain or illness less important.

Contact the pharmacy and request adjustments

Check opening times and whether the required service is available. Ask for a private consultation space, more time, accessible explanations, communication aids or a supporter you choose. Explain sensory, mobility, hearing or language needs beforehand if possible. Staff should speak to the person directly. Ask how relevant information will be shared with the GP and how your privacy will be protected.

The seven established Pharmacy First conditions

The established NHS pathways cover earache due to acute otitis media at ages 1–17; impetigo and infected insect bites from age 1; sore throat from age 5; sinusitis from age 12; shingles from age 18; and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women aged 16–64. These are assessment routes, not a guarantee of a particular medicine. Contact a participating pharmacy directly. Outside these groups, a pharmacist can still advise and help identify the right service.

New prescribing pathways are being introduced

At this guide’s review on 1 November 2026, Pharmacy First is expanding through approved pharmacies with prescribing pharmacists. Five additional pathways cover mild to moderate acne; outer-ear infection in adults; low-frequency episodic migraine in adults; seasonal allergic rhinitis, including hay fever, in children; and mild skin or soft-tissue infections and scabies. This is a gradual rollout. Each pathway has its own age and clinical limits. Check local availability and eligibility before travelling; these additional services are not yet available at every pharmacy.

What to take and what to explain

Bring a medicine list and tell the pharmacist about allergies, pregnancy where relevant, health conditions and treatments already tried. Explain how long symptoms have lasted and whether eating, drinking, breathing, toileting, sleep or alertness has changed. Ask a supporter to help with your agreement. The pharmacist may ask further questions or examine the affected area. If assessment cannot be completed safely, another service may be needed.

Medicines and antibiotics are not automatic

The pharmacist decides whether the clinical pathway fits and whether treatment is appropriate. Antibiotics do not treat viral infections and are not needed for every sore throat, earache or sinus problem. Ask what the recommended medicine is for and how to use it. Check before combining it with other medicines, including products bought without a prescription. Do not share someone else’s medicines.

Ask what you will need to pay

Pharmacy advice and the NHS Pharmacy First consultation are free. Medicines supplied through NHS pathways can carry the usual prescription charge unless you qualify for an exemption. Products bought over the counter and private services may cost money. A learning disability does not automatically make every medicine free. Check the NHS costs checker and any required certificate; do not guess your exemption. Ask about the NHS Low Income Scheme or a prescription prepayment certificate if relevant.

When you have run out of regular medicine

Contact your GP or pharmacy promptly if a repeat supply is running out. If you have completely run out and need it urgently, the NHS 111 emergency prescription service can assess a request for a limited supply of a regular repeat medicine. Call 111 instead if you also have symptoms or need help explaining the situation. The online emergency route cannot supply antibiotics for a new problem or certain controlled medicines. A pharmacy may offer a private emergency supply, but legal conditions, suitability and charges apply.

Know when to seek urgent medical help

Do not wait for a pharmacy visit if the person has severe breathing difficulty, is unconscious or has another life-threatening emergency: call 999. For urgent illness that is not life-threatening, contact the GP urgently or NHS 111. Tell them about rapid deterioration, inability to keep fluids down or a major change from the person’s usual condition. Follow an existing clinical emergency plan where relevant. If uncertain or communication is difficult, call 111 and explain.

Leave with a clear next step

Ask when symptoms should improve, what changes mean you need urgent help and whom to contact if treatment does not work. Ask for this in a format you understand. If the pharmacist recommends another service, check where to go and how urgently. Seek help again if the person gets worse or you remain concerned; an earlier pharmacy assessment does not rule out a later serious illness.

Getting help at a pharmacy

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