We can give you advice on a range of conditions via a video consultation and suggest medicines that can help. We may also be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP (this is called Pharmacy First).
See the conditions below that we can treat as part of Pharmacy First.
We can give you advice on a range of conditions via a video consultation and suggest medicines that can help. We may also be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP (this is called Pharmacy First).
See the conditions below that we can treat as part of Pharmacy First.
Patients aged one year and above can receive treatment for earache through the NHS Pharmacy First service. If you or your child has ear pain or discomfort, speak to the pharmacy team today for advice and treatment where appropriate.
About Earache
Earache is a common condition that can affect both children and adults. It’s often caused by a middle ear infection (otitis media), a build-up of ear wax, or fluid behind the eardrum. Earache can be painful and uncomfortable, but many cases can be safely managed without needing to see a GP.
Symptoms of earache can include:
- Pain or discomfort inside the ear
- A feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear
- Reduced hearing
- Irritability or difficulty sleeping (especially in young children)
- Tugging or pulling at the ear in babies and toddlers
Through the NHS Pharmacy First service, our trained pharmacy team can assess symptoms, provide treatment where appropriate, and advise if further medical care is needed
Patients aged one year and above can receive treatment for impetigo. This includes patients who have recurrent impetigo. If you think you or your child has impetigo, call the Pharmacy today.
About Impetigo
Impetigo is a skin infection that's very contagious but not usually serious. It often gets better in 7 to 10 days if you get treatment. Anyone can get it, but it's very common in young children.
Impetigo starts with red sores or blisters, but the redness may be harder to see in brown and black skin. The sores or blisters quickly burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches.
The patches can:
- Look a bit like corn flakes stuck to your skin.
- Get bigger.
- Spread to other parts of your body.
- Be itchy.
- Sometimes be painful.
Patients aged one year and over who have an infected insect bite can receive support from the pharmacist and team. If you have been bitten and the bite area is red, tender or swollen, visit the pharmacy today.
About Infected Insect Bites
The main symptoms of an insect bite or sting are:
- Pain where you were bitten or stung.
- A small, swollen lump on the skin.
- The lump may look red. It may be more difficult to see on black or brown skin, but you should be able to feel it.
This service is available for adults aged 18 years and over. Patients presenting with shingles could be eligible for medication supply.
About Shingles
The first signs of shingles can be:
- A tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin.
- A headache or feeling generally unwell.
A rash will usually appear a few days later. In rare cases, shingles can cause pain without a rash.
Usually you get the shingles rash on your chest and tummy, but it can appear anywhere on your body including on your face, eyes and genitals.
The rash appears as blotches on your skin, on one side of your body only. A rash on both the left and right of your body is unlikely to be shingles.
This service is available for adults and children aged 12 years of age and over. If you are suffering with a blocked nose and sinus pain, the pharmacists at Newton's Chemist will be able to help.
About Sinusitis
Sinusitis is common after a cold or flu. The main symptoms of sinusitis include:
- Pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead.
- A blocked or runny nose.
- A reduced sense of smell.
- Green or yellow mucus from your nose.
- A high temperature.
Other symptoms include:
- Headache
- Toothache
- Bad breath
- Cough
- Feeling of pressure in the ears
You may also snore at night and sound nasal when you speak.
Young children may also be irritable, have difficulty feeding and breath through their mouth.
Adults and children over five years of age can access support from the pharmacists at Newton's Chemist - if they have a sore throat alongside a fever.
About Sore Throats
You can ask a pharmacist to evaluate you. After which they can share ways of relieving the pain and discomfort of a sore throat, such as:
- Paracetamol or Ibruprofen
- Medicated lozenges containing a local anaesthetic, antiseptic, or anti-inflammatory medicine
- Anaesthetic spray (although there's little proof they help)
Our pharmacist can also provide other treatments if you need them, without you seeing a GP.
This service is available to women afed 16 - 64 years with a suspected lower urinary tract infection. If you have burning when passing urine, needing to urinate during the night or your urine is cloudy, you may be eligible for the Pharmacy First Service, where the pharmacist can provide medication.
About UTI's
Symptoms of urinary tract infection may include:
- Pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria)
- Needing to pee more often than usual
- Needing to pee more often than usual during the night (nocturia)
- Needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
- Pee that looks cloudy
- Blood in your pee
- Lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
- A high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- A very low temperature below 36c
Your pee may also be dark or smell. If this is your own symptom, it might be because you've not been drinking enough water.
We can provide you the same treatments you would get from the GP.
The Pharmacy First service is an accessible service for all, where you can receive support, advice and if necessary, medication to support you with common conditions.
How can Pharmacy First save time?
Pharmacy First will help you get seen by a healthcare professional quickly.
Instead of waiting for a GP appointment, going to A&E or attending out-of-hours NHS services, you can walk into your nearest pharmacy and have a private consultation with one of our pharmacists whenever you need to.
What are the benefits of Pharmacy First?
Pharmacy First will allow you to self-treat minor ailments and reduce the time you spend at your GP surgery.
Pharmacists have a range of clinical skills, and they will be able to provide accurate clinical advice without the hassle and waiting times that you might experience using other NHS services like A&E.
If it turns out you need treatment from a GP, your pharmacist can also refer you to them.
Who is eligible for Pharmacy First?
Only patients in England will be eligible for the Pharmacy First service.
Will I need to prove that I don't have to pay for my prescriptions?
If you are exempt from paying for prescriptions, you should show your pharmacist evidence of this when you speak to them. They will need it if they recommend any medicines to treat your symptoms.
What will the pharmacist ask during my consultation?
Our pharmacist will want to understand:
- The symptoms you’re experiencing
- Your medical history
- If you’re experiencing any other types of illness
This will help them recommend treatments and medicines that will work for you.