NHS Pharmacy First: What don't you need a GP appointment for?

Pharmacy First is the health service that COULD save you a trip to the GP. Do you know about it?

There’s still high demand for GP appointments and emergency department waiting times continue to be high.

And head of NHS Fife acute services Claire Dobson recently explained there are people going to A&E when they could be seen elsewhere.

So do you know where the Pharmacy First service is available near you, if you’re eligible to use it and what you can get help for?

We’re answering your questions.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and Michael Anderson, deputy manager of McPherson’s Pharmacy. Image: DC Thomson.

What is Pharmacy First?

NHS Pharmacy First is a network of community pharmacies which could save you going to your GP or, in some cases, A&E.

A pharmacist, or a member of the pharmacy team, can give you advice and treatment (if you need it) for various minor illnesses and common clinical conditions.

They’ll ask you for information including your name, age and date of birth.

Pharmacy First Scotland was launched in July 2020. Image: Shutterstock.

And in most cases:

You won’t need an appointment.
You can choose which pharmacy you go to.
You can ask to use the pharmacy’s consultation area or room if you want to speak to the pharmacist in private.

If the pharmacist thinks it is better for you to see your GP, they may refer you directly or tell you to make an appointment.

Who is eligible for Pharmacy First?

If you’re registered with a GP practice, you can use NHS Pharmacy First Scotland.

You can speak to the pharmacy team near you if you need more details.

If you need to, you can find also out how to register with a GP practice in Scotland.

Where can I find one near me?

NHS Inform has a special section where you can search for pharmacies near you.

You can search by place or postcode – for example, you can search for a list of those available in Dundee along with services offered.

A pile of loose codeine pills, an opiate (derived from opium) used to treat pain. — You may have to pay for some medicines. Image: Shutterstock.

What does Pharmacy First cover?

There’s a list of conditions they can give help for including common ailments and non-emergencies including:

Acne
Backache
Blocked or runny nose
Headache
Indigestion
Pain
Sore throat
Urinary tract infections (UTI’s)

A full list can be found here.

Do I have to pay?

Pharmacists, like GPs, can only provide certain medicines and products on the NHS.

If you want a specific medicine or product, you may need to buy it. The pharmacist will give you advice on this.

Some pharmacists have an additional prescribing qualification which allows them to prescribe a wider range of medicines, normally only available from your GP practice.