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Pharmacy First

If you or your family become unwell with a common health condition you may not always need to see a doctor or get a prescription. You have different choices available to you. Your local pharmacy team are qualified health professionals with the knowledge and skills to help you manage minor health concerns.

Your pharmacy should always be your first choice for help, advice and treatment for common conditions such as:

  • Acute sore throats
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Headlice
  • Earwax
  • Insect bites and stings
  • Mild to moderate hayfever
  • Indigestion and heartburn
  • Cuts and bruises
  • Cold, coughs and nasal congestion
  • Travel sickness.

Pharmacists can advise patients on self-care and also on which are the lowest cost versions of medicines available.

Pharmacists have the knowledge and skills to help with many healthcare conditions, and you don’t need an appointment to speak to a pharmacist. Visiting a pharmacist first helps to make more GP appointments available for people with more complex healthcare needs. If you have something more serious, the pharmacist is trained to signpost you quickly to the right medical care.

Your pharmacist can advise on how long you can expect to experience symptoms for. If your symptoms have not improved after this time or you start to feel a lot worse, contact your GP, call 111 or go online to 111.nhs.uk. A&E and 999 should only be used for life threatening emergencies.

This organisation ceased to exist on 30 June 2022, please visit our new website for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board - Integrated Care Board :: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System (icb.nhs.uk)