Pharmacy
Your local pharmacy, or chemist, isn’t just the place where you pick up your prescribed medicines.
They can also give health advice. Pharmacists are qualified health professionals and are the right people to see if you need advice or over-the-counter medicines.
They are trained in dealing with many illnesses, they can check your symptoms and recommend the best treatment, or just reassure you – for instance when a minor illness will get better on its own with a few days’ rest.
Some of the problems they can help with are: coughs, colds, sore throats, earache, toothache and emergency contraception (the morning-after pill). They can also tell you when you need to see a doctor or nurse and you can get advice on prescription medicines.
Many of us live near a pharmacy and you don’t need an appointment to see them. They are often open in the evenings and at weekends, so they offer fast, convenient support.
Most of them also have a private consultation room, so you can have a conversation where other people can’t hear you. If you need it, just ask.
To find your nearest local pharmacy, go to the NHS “Find services” directory. Alternatively, use NHS 111.
Think Pharmacy First
Going to your local pharmacy offers an easy and convenient way to get clinical advice on minor health concerns, and now 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 can now assess and treat patients for earache, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women aged 16-64 – without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. GP practices are also able to directly refer patients to their community pharmacist.
Many pharmacies in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are also providing oral contraception medication for those who already have a prescription. People can now get consultations and repeat supplies of their medication directly from a pharmacy.
Community pharmacy teams are highly-skilled, qualified health professionals who have the right clinical training to give people the health advice they need. Patients don’t need an appointment and private consultation rooms are available. Pharmacy teams can also signpost to other relevantlocal services where necessary.
Pharmacists have always helped patients, families and carers in their communities stay healthy and are well placed to offer treatment for health conditions. By expanding the services community pharmacies offer, the NHS is aiming to free up GP appointments and give people more choice in how and where they access care.
Could you save money on prescriptions?
If you are on a low income, or pay for more than three prescription items in three months, or 11 items in 12 months, you could save money on your prescriptions.
A Prescription Prepayment Certificate covers all NHS prescriptions for a set pre-paid price, or spread over 10 direct debit payments.
People on a low income could be entitled to help with costs or free prescriptions through the low income scheme, depending on your circumstances.
- You can check if you’re eligible for free prescriptions at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check,
- or find out more about the Prescription Prepayment Certificates at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc.
Search for a pharmacy near you below. Click the drop down arrow underneath ‘Service’ and select ‘Pharmacy’ from the list.
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