Pharmacy First is an NHS England initiative providing more convenient treatment closer to patients’ homes.

Pharmacists can give you advice on a range of conditions and suggest medicines that can help. This will help free up GPs to deal with more complex health needs and ensure that everyone gets treated at the right time, by the right healthcare professional.

They may also be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions.

7 main conditions they can treat as part of Pharmacy First are:

• earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
• impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
• infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
• shingles (aged 18 years and over)
• sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
• sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
• urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)

If you go to a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or other healthcare professional if needed.

They will then update your GP health record.

If you are not within these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.

What other conditions can the clinical pharmacist treat?

See the poster below for a full list of conditions they can see.

The service is not suitable for:

• Children under 1 year old
• Immunosuppressed patients
• Severe symptoms
• Pregnant patients
• Symptoms/conditions that have lasted more than 3 weeks
• Has not responded to over-the-counter medication

How can I access the service?

Contact or walk-in to your local pharmacy directly to arrange a consultation and treatment.

Alternatively, contact our Reception Team on
01228 588121 where you will be asked to discuss your symptoms and, if appropriate, refer you for a same day appointment with our community pharmacist colleagues at a local community pharmacy for a personal consultation.

You will have a choice over which pharmacy you are referred to.

Please note, we can only refer those who are registered patients of Carlisle Healthcare. If you are not registered with us, please contact your own GP surgery or the Pharmacy directly.