Patients with minor, self-limiting conditions and conditions suitable for self-care will be signposted to community pharmacies, or other outlets such as supermarkets and local shops, to purchase over-the-counter treatments.
Community pharmacists have a wealth of experience and training, and are well placed to contribute to the management of minor ailments and common conditions. No appointments are needed and community pharmacies are often open for longer hours than GP Practices and are also open at weekends.
Pharmacists are expert in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will refer you to your GP practice if they think you need it.
The pharmacy can help with:
- Athlete’s foot
- Bacterial conjunctivitis
- Constipation
- Dental pain
- Diarrhoea
- Earache
- Haemorrhoids
- Hay fever
- Head lice
- Insect bites/stings
- Sore throat
- Teething
- Temperature/fever
- Threadworms
- Thrush