Shingles

What is the NHS Pharmacy First service?

This NHS service allows you to get quick access to healthcare advice as you can walk into a pharmacy and request the service.

You can get help with the following seven conditions:

• Earache (for people aged 1 to 17 years)
• Impetigo (for people aged 1 year and over)
• Infected insect bites (for people aged 1 year and over)
• Shingles (for people aged 18 years and over)
• Sinusitis (for people aged 12 years and over)
• Sore throat (for people aged 5 years and over)
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) (for women aged 16 to 64 years)

What does the service involve?

You will speak to a pharmacist in a private consultation room, with some pharmacies also offering appointments online via a video consultation.

The pharmacist will talk to you about your symptoms and will provide advice and, if necessary, supply a prescription medicine to treat the condition.

If you are given a prescription medicine, NHS prescription charges apply if you normally pay for medicines supplied on prescription.

An electronic message will be sent to your GP surgery so your GP health record can be updated with information about the consultation.

Should the pharmacist be unable to help, you will be directed to your GP surgery or another health professional.