The honest version: a pharmacist can deal with more than most people assume, and less than some headlines suggest. Here is where the line actually sits.
Sore throat, earache in a child, sinusitis, a urinary infection in a woman aged 16 to 64, an infected insect bite, shingles, impetigo. All seven are covered by Pharmacy First, assessed in the consultation room, free on the NHS. Add to that hay fever, threadworm, head lice, athlete's foot, thrush, constipation, indigestion, dry eyes, mouth ulcers, teething and nappy rash — treatable over the counter with advice attached.
Blood pressure that reads high, a mole you are worried about, a cough that has gone past three weeks, unexplained weight loss. We will check, and then we will tell you to see a GP. That is not a wasted trip — a blood pressure reading and a clear description of your symptoms makes the GP appointment shorter and more useful.
Anything needing a prescription-only medicine outside our patient group directions, anything that needs bloods or imaging, mental health, and any long-term condition review. Also anything that has already been treated once and has not settled.
Chest pain, difficulty breathing, weakness on one side, slurred speech, severe bleeding, a fit, a stiff neck with a rash that does not fade under pressure, or a baby under three months with a temperature. Do not come to a pharmacy for any of these — we will send you on, and the delay matters.
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