Pharmacy First

Get advice and treatment from your pharmacist

Pharmacy First allows you to speak privately with a pharmacist about several common health concerns without needing to see your GP first.

No appointment is usually required. The pharmacist will assess your symptoms and may recommend self-care or suitable treatment, carry out a test or examination where required, or refer you to your GP or another healthcare service if Pharmacy First is not suitable.

Please bring details of your regular medication and allergies with you.

Everyday Health Conditions

Our pharmacists can advise on the following conditions:

• Acne
• Athlete’s foot
• Diarrhoea
• Earwax
• Groin fungal infection
• Haemorrhoids
• Head lice
• Mouth ulcers
• Oral thrush
• Threadworms
• Vaginal thrush
• Verrucae

Who can use this service?

You can ask the pharmacist for help if you have symptoms of one of the conditions listed above. We will ask some questions to make sure treatment is safe and suitable for you.

When might we refer you?

You may need to see your GP or another healthcare professional if your symptoms are severe, unusual, difficult to diagnose, keep returning or have not improved with treatment. Referral may also be needed if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if your age, medical history or current medicines make treatment through Pharmacy First unsuitable.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

This service is for non-pregnant women aged 16 to 64 who have symptoms of an uncomplicated lower UTI.

Typical symptoms include:

• Burning or stinging when passing urine
• Needing to pass urine more often than usual
• Needing to pass urine urgently
• Passing small amounts of urine frequently

The pharmacist will assess your symptoms and may request a urine sample. Antibiotics will only be supplied when clinically appropriate.

This service may not be suitable if:

• You are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• You are male, under 16 or aged 65 or over
• You have a fever, shaking or chills
• You have pain in your back or side below the ribs
• You are vomiting or feel very unwell
• You have unusual vaginal discharge
• You have a catheter, significant kidney problems or are under the care of a urologist
• You have had two UTIs within six months or three within twelve months
• You have recently taken antibiotics for a UTI or treatment has already failed

These symptoms or circumstances may require assessment by a GP or another prescriber.

Find out more about our UTI service

Sore Throat

The Pharmacy First sore throat service is available to adults and children aged five years and over with symptoms of an uncomplicated sore throat.

The pharmacist will examine your symptoms and may carry out a throat swab. Most sore throats are caused by viruses and do not require antibiotics. If testing and assessment indicate a bacterial infection, the pharmacist may supply an antibiotic when appropriate.

You may need urgent medical assessment if:

• You are having difficulty breathing
• You cannot swallow fluids or your own saliva
• You are drooling or becoming dehydrated
• You have severe swelling, neck stiffness or a muffled voice
• You are extremely unwell, confused or rapidly getting worse
• Your immune system is severely weakened
• Your symptoms are persistent, recurrent or do not fit an uncomplicated sore throat

Children under five should be assessed through an appropriate healthcare service.

Emergency Hormonal Contraception

Emergency hormonal contraception is available through Pharmacy First to women and young people aged 13 years and over who are registered with a GP in Northern Ireland.

It may be needed following unprotected sex or if contraception has failed, for example, a missed pill or a split condom.

Emergency contraception can be used up to five days after unprotected sex, depending on the treatment, but it is more effective when taken as soon as possible.

The consultation is private and confidential. The pharmacist will ask when the unprotected sex occurred, about your menstrual cycle, any contraception you currently use, your medication and medical history, and whether there is a possibility of an existing pregnancy.

Your medicines, weight and the time since unprotected sex can affect which option is most suitable. The pharmacist may recommend referral for a copper coil, which is the most effective form of emergency contraception.

Emergency contraception does not end an existing pregnancy.

Please seek urgent medical advice if you have severe or one-sided abdominal pain, collapse, fainting or unusual bleeding.

Find out more about emergency contraception

Shingles

The Pharmacy First shingles service is available from selected participating pharmacies. It is for adults aged 18 years and over who are registered with a GP in Northern Ireland. An in-person consultation is required.

Shingles commonly causes pain, burning, tingling or sensitivity followed by a blistering rash on one side of the body. Treatment works best when it is started promptly, so please contact the pharmacy as soon as possible.

You may need urgent medical assessment if:

• The rash is on your face, around your eye or on your nose
• You have eye pain, redness or changes to your vision
• The rash is widespread or you feel seriously unwell
• You have neck stiffness, confusion, muscle weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control
• You are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• You have a severely weakened immune system
• The diagnosis is unclear

Please contact us before travelling to confirm whether the shingles service is currently available at Health Centre Pharmacy.

What happens during your consultation?

Your pharmacist will speak with you in a private consultation area. We will ask about your symptoms, medical history, allergies and current medicines.

Treatment is not guaranteed. It can only be supplied when the pharmacist decides it is clinically appropriate and within the Pharmacy First service criteria. If the service is unsuitable, we will explain what to do next and how urgently you should seek help.

Need help?

Call into Health Centre Pharmacy or contact us for advice. If you have severe breathing difficulties, collapse, confusion or another life-threatening emergency, call 999.