Pharmacy services and opening hours

Most pharmacies provide private consultation rooms giving a confidential environment for patients to discuss their medication or condition as necessary. If they can’t help, they’ll be able to signpost to other healthcare services you could use.

Many pharmacies offer other services too, such as vaccinations, oral and emergency contraception and testing for blood pressure, amongst many others. Please note that charges may apply in certain circumstances to some of these services.

Supporting you to self-care

Community pharmacies are highly accessible, and the pharmacy team can help you access advice on healthy lifestyles and long-term conditions as well as minor illnesses.

They can also help you to understand when symptoms can be managed at home, choose suitable over the counter (OTC) medicines, and identify symptoms that could indicate a more serious condition requiring support from a GP or urgent care setting.

Finding a pharmacy and opening hours

Use the NHS ‘Find a pharmacy’ tool to find a pharmacy near you and for information on opening hours.

You can also find pharmacies that offer specific services:

Pharmacy First

Use the Pharmacy First service to get help with a range of common conditions and minor illnesses. You can usually pop into your local pharmacy and if appropriate will be offered a private consultation

Following a consultation, the pharmacist may decide that over-the counter treatment and/or self care advice are appropriate for your symptoms. Or if clinically necessary, the pharmacist will be able to offer an NHS medicine to treat it (NHS prescription charges will apply if you normally pay for medicines supplied on prescription).

Should the pharmacy team be unable to help, then you will be directed to another healthcare professional as appropriate.

Please note that certain exclusions may apply, for example patients who are immunocompromised or those with recurring or chronic symptoms. The pharmacist will ask you questions to understand if you are eligible for this service, and if you aren’t they will signpost you to the most appropriate service for your clinical needs.

As part of the Pharmacy First service, your local pharmacist can help you or your family with the following conditions (age restrictions apply):

• Earache (1 to 17 years)
• Impetigo (1 year and over)
• Infected insect bite (1 year and over)
• Shingles (18 years and over)
• Sinusitis (12 years and over)
• Sore throat (5 years and over)
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (women aged 16-64)

Making sure you have your medication

Your GP surgery is likely to be closed on weekends and bank holidays so if you use prescription medicine, it is important that you allow enough time when you order any repeat prescriptions you might need.

Please try to order your repeat prescription about one week before you expect to receive the medicine. Most GP surgeries require at least two working days to process a repeat prescription, and your pharmacy will normally need a few days to dispense the medicine before it is ready for you to collect.

Using the NHS App makes managing your repeat prescriptions quick, easy and convenient. You can request your repeat medication at any time, track the status of your order, and choose the pharmacy that’s most convenient for you—all without needing to call or visit your GP practice. The request is sent directly to your surgery for approval before being issued to your nominated pharmacy, helping reduce waiting times and making the whole process more efficient for both patients and practices.

If you are going away for the weekend, don’t forget to take your prescription medicine with you.

If you have run out of your regular medicine and need some urgently, you can use the 111 online or phone service. They’ll ask some questions, including where you are and when you are due to take your medicine so they can suggest the best way to get it. They may refer you to a pharmacy where the pharmacist will clinically assess the urgent need and where appropriate may supply enough of your regular medicine to last until your prescription is ready. If the pharmacist is unable to help, they will escalate you back to most appropriate healthcare provider.