Visit Your Pharmacy First
Please consider visiting your nearest pharmacy for minor ailments before contacting the GP. Instead patients can see a qualified health professional at a pharmacy rather than make a GP appointment.
It is estimated that each year 57 million visits to the GP are made for common ailments. These same ailments would get the same treatment if the patient had visited a pharmacy. So now, by talking to your pharmacist first you can get the advice and medicines you need to get you on the road to recovery without having to see a doctor. Plus there’s no need to worry about having private conversations at the counter. Just ask to use the consultation room. Most pharmacies have them.
The Pharmacy can help children and adults who need medication for a number of common ailments.
Visiting your pharmacy first will also help to free up valuable GP time, which can be used to deal with more complex or serious health needs. A pharmacist will always advise you if they think you need to see a doctor.
“Often what the GP may prescribe, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, doesn’t need a prescription and this can often be bought cheaper over the counter. So it’s always a good idea to talk to the pharmacist first.”
Community Pharmacy Extended Care Services
The Community Pharmacy Extended Care Service between NHS England Midlands and community pharmacists allow people to visit a local pharmacy instead of their GP for advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses.
The three-tier service includes the following the following conditions:
Tier 1
Tier 2 – skin services
Tier 3
- Otitis media – middle ear infection (Children aged 3 months – 16 years)
Treatment
Pharmacists can supply medicines to treat the conditions or recommend over the counter medicines. If you are exempt from paying for prescriptions, you will not pay for prescribed medicines from the pharmacist.
For more information, see:Self Care Ailments
COMMON AILMENTS
We are keen to help patients improve on self help and hope that the following information will offer some insight into that.
Take a look and see if you can improve your own understanding of your health and well-being! Please encourage others to look here too.
Here is a list of ailments that can be safely self managed. You will see that you can take a look via the hyperlink at the other websites which can offer you further information about managing your condition.
Remember the pharmacy can also help with the treatment of certain minor ailments rather than making an appointment at the surgery.
Common ailments that can be self managed :