As experts in medicines and managing minor illnesses, pharmacists have been backed by Government and the NHS to provide a new NHS “Pharmacy First” service.

Many pharmacies have signed up to support people in certain age groups seeking help for a variety on conditions.

These conditions are:

Condition:	Age:
Sinusitis	for children and adults aged 12 years and over
Sore throat	for children and adults aged 5 years over
Earache (Acute otitis media)	for children and adults age 1 year and over
Impetigo	for children and adults aged 1 and over
Shingles	for adults aged 18 years and over
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections	for women aged 16 to 64 years

If you have symptoms that suggest you may have one of these conditions, you can now walk into a pharmacy and be offered a consultation with the pharmacist. Under the new service pharmacists can provide advice and, if clinically necessary, will offer an NHS medicine to treat it (NHS prescription charges apply if you normally pay for medicines supplied on prescription). Should the pharmacy team be unable to help, you will be directed to your GP surgery or A&E as appropriate.

By thinking “Pharmacy First” you may find it easier and quicker to get the help you need and skip the telephone que with your GP Surgery.

Find out more about pharmacies by going to NHS website: www.nhs.uk/pharmacies