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NHS Pharmacy Clinical Services
Get NHS care and advice from your local pharmacy
Many NHS services are now available directly through your local community pharmacy. This can help you get advice and treatment quickly without needing to wait for a GP appointment.
Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals who can assess symptoms, provide treatment, and refer you to other services where needed.
Our local pharmacies can provide:
- Pharmacy First Service
- NHS Blood Pressure Check Service
- Pharmacy Contraception Service
Find a participating surgery or if you have any questions please contact us
Pharmacy first service
Did you know?
Pharmacy First is a national NHS service in England. It allows patients to access assessment and treatment for seven common conditions directly from participating pharmacies without needing to see a GP first. In some cases, pharmacists can supply prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics or antiviral treatments, where clinically appropriate.
Wallis Avenue Surgery may also signpost or refer patients into this service, but you do not need to be registered with our practice to use it.
What conditions are covered?
Your local pharmacy can now supply prescription-only treatment, if they believe you need it, for the following conditions:
- Earache (acute otitis media): ages 1 to 17
- Sore throat: ages 5+
- Sinusitis: ages 12+
- Infected insect bite: ages 1+
- Impetigo (skin infection): ages 1+
- Shingles: ages 18+
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI): women aged 16–64
If your symptoms don’t fit these pathways, pharmacists can still advise, recommend over-the-counter options, or signpost you elsewhere.
How it works
- Visit or phone a participating pharmacy (you may also be referred by our team, NHS 111, or urgent care).
- Private consultation to check symptoms and history.
- Treatment plan: advice and, if suitable, NHS medicine supplied on the spot.
- Safety-netting: if more is needed, you’ll be referred appropriately.
Costs
- Consultation: free
- If medicine is supplied: usual NHS prescription charge applies (unless exempt)
If an over-the-counter product is recommended, you’ll pay the shop price. Check free prescription eligibility.
Who it’s for
Adults and children in England who meet the age ranges above.
Urgent help
Call 999 or go to A&E for:
- Severe chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Signs of stroke
- Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
- Confusion, blue/grey lips, or if someone is unresponsive
Do I need to contact the practice first?
No. You can walk in or phone a participating pharmacy directly. Our team may also signpost or refer you if you contact us first.
Will I always get antibiotics?
No. Pharmacists supply prescription-only medicines only when they’re likely to help and are safe for you, following national NHS pathways. Many conditions improve with self-care.
How long will it take?
Most consultations are same-day. If the pharmacy is busy, they may offer a time to return, or a phone/video consultation if available.
Is my information shared with the GP?
Yes. If you’re supplied medicine, your GP record is updated to keep everything in one place.
NHS blood pressure check service
Why get your blood pressure checked?
- High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a condition which can be controlled to reduce your risk of a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease.
- In the UK there are about five million adults (one in every nine) who have high blood pressure without even knowing it, since high blood pressure itself rarely causes symptoms.
- The British Heart Foundation estimates that high blood pressure causes over 50% of heart attacks and strokes.
What does this free NHS blood pressure check involve?
We are offering free NHS blood pressure checks to people aged 40 and over with no appointment necessary.
This involves around 10 to 15 minutes in the pharmacy consultation room with pharmacy staff. Following this, you may be invited to take home a blood pressure monitor that measures your blood pressure as you go about your daily life.
Depending on your blood pressure reading you may be referred to your GP. The pharmacy staff will guide you through any necessary steps depending on your blood pressure result.
NHS pharmacy contraception service
You can now arrange to speak to a pharmacist or pharmacy technician to get advice or support with your contraceptive needs.
What will the consultation include?
A trained pharmacist or pharmacy technician will carry out your consultation. They will ask you the same questions as the healthcare professional at your general practice or sexual health clinic would ask.
An appropriately trained member of the pharmacy team might also carry out some checks – such as taking your blood pressure, weight, height and asking about your medical history.
The pharmacist or pharmacy technician will discuss any concerns you have. For example, you can tell them if you have side effects from your contraception. If you have side effects, they will be able to help identify ways of managing these and, if needed, refer you to your GP surgery or sexual health clinic for further support.
Will my information be passed on to my GP?
The consultation is confidential, so the pharmacist or pharmacy technician will not talk to your GP or share your information without your consent.
If you agree, the pharmacist or pharmacy technician will send a record of the consultation and the details of any contraception supplied to your GP surgery.
If the pharmacist or pharmacy technician identifies any health problems, for example, raised blood pressure, they will talk to you about sharing this information with your GP.
I need emergency contraception (the morning after pill) can I get it from my pharmacy?
Yes. Our pharmacist or pharmacy technician can help you consider the best option for you and where appropriate, can provide a free emergency contraception pill.
I want to understand what my choices of contraception are, how can this pharmacy service help me?
This free NHS service may be more convenient than booking an appointment with your GP surgery or at a sexual health clinic (may also be called a family planning or contraception clinic). You can choose a time that suits you, and the service is free and confidential.
Our pharmacist or pharmacy technician can give the same expert advice about selecting and managing your contraceptive pills as your GP surgery. You can talk to them one-to-one in our private consultation room.
Would I be able to start or switch to a new contraception method?
Yes, the pharmacist or pharmacy technician can talk through your options and where suitable, is able to start you on a contraceptive pill or issue you a different contraceptive pill.
Where necessary, the pharmacist can refer you to your GP surgery or sexual health clinic for other options.
I already use contraceptive pills and have it prescribed, why use this service?
This pharmacy service may be more convenient and accessible than booking an appointment with your GP surgery or at a sexual health clinic for your annual pill check or to get a new prescription. You can choose a time that suits you, and the service is free and confidential.
The NHS has put this pharmacy service in place as a way to reduce demand on GP surgeries.
Who can use this service?
You can use the service if:
- You need advice or a supply of an emergency contraceptive.
- You are considering your choice of contraception and would like advice on your options.
- You would like to start taking or restart contraceptive pills.
- You are already taking a contraceptive pill that has been prescribed for you by your pharmacy, GP surgery or a sexual health clinic and you need your next supply of contraception.
How do I access this service?
You can be referred by your GP surgery or sexual health clinic or simply walk in and speak to the pharmacy team about the service. We may ask you to book an appointment or it may be possible to just turn up and have a consultation with the pharmacist or pharmacy technician.