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Think Pharmacy First

Published on: 23 Feb 2024

Think Pharmacy First

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, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women aged 16-64 -without the need for a GP appointment.

Find your nearest Pharmacy

Available on the high street, community pharmacy teams have the right clinical training to give people the health advice they need, with no appointment necessary and private consultations available. Community pharmacists will signpost patients to other local services where necessary.

A person is standing outside a pharmacy looking uncomfortable. The sign above the pharmacy reads 'My insect bite is getting worse pharmacy' A lower third box features in the bottom on the image. Text in the box reads: 'Think pharmacy first'
A person is standing outside a pharmacy holding the side of their face in discomfort. The sign above the pharmacy reads 'This earache is getting worse pharmacy' A lower third box features in the bottom on the image. Text in the box reads: 'Think pharmacy first'
A person is standing outside a pharmacy looking uncomfortable. The sign above the pharmacy reads 'It burns when I pee pharmacy' A lower third box features in the bottom on the image. Text in the box reads: 'Think pharmacy first'
Pharmacies can treat 7 common conditions, including infected insect bites, earache and UTIs.
Visit nhs.uk/thinkpharmacyfirst.

By expanding the services community pharmacies offer,the NHS is aiming to help 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

From the 2nd February 2026 we are moving to a Total Triage model.

Total triage is how we manage appointments at our practice.
You will fill out a e-consult rather than calling the surgery and tell us about your problem.

Ideally, patients will submit their own request however we appreciate that this may not be possible for some patients. If you are unable to use or access the online form then please contact the surgery by telephone and we will complete the request for you, which will be added to the triage list to be reviewed by the GP.

A clinician will review your information and decide the best way to help you, which may be advice, a phone call, or an appointment.

We will have three types of appointments:

• Same day – for emergencies (A member of staff will contact you to book the appointment)
• Within 5 days – for patients that need to see or speak to a healthcare professional soon, but not urgently.
• Within 10 days – for routine appointments.

The main purpose of total triage is to make sure you receive high-quality care by getting the right advice or appointment for your needs as quickly as possible.

Please ensure you have completed the e-consult in full with as much information as possible.

To fill out a e-consult please click here

for more help on filling out a e-consult on the NHS app please visit the e-consult NHS app guide.

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