The Pharmacy First scheme provides professional health care advice, treatments, and medicines for common minor illnesses from your local pharmacy, without the need for you to book or wait for a GP appointment.

In most cases, Pharmacy First serves as a replacement for CPCS in terms of providing alternative avenues for accessing healthcare services for minor illnesses. It also facilitates referrals to other parts of the NHS for minor ailments and offers urgent repeat supplies of medications.

Pharmacy First offers the convenience of having our experienced pharmacists provide treatment for a range of ailments. These include sinusitis, a sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women under 65. The best part is that you don’t need to schedule a GP appointment to access convenient care, our qualified pharmacists are here to help.

Yes, under the Pharmacy First program, our qualified pharmacists are now authorised to provide treatment for sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women under 65. This can be done without requiring a GP appointment or prescription.

Where it is appropriate our pharmacists are able to prescribe antibiotics as part of your treatment.

In order to provide you with the best possible guidance and care, we suggest scheduling an appointment through our online booking system. This will not only minimise waiting times but also ensure that you receive prompt and appropriate treatment. If you are uncertain about which specific service is required, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of pharmacists at 020 8643 6787.

As always, if you’d like advice on your health, medication or a condition please feel free to visit our pharmacy in Sutton.

You can have a conversation with a member of our pharmacy team through the Pharmacy First program without any charges. However, if you usually pay for your prescriptions, there might be some fees involved. If you have any questions, our pharmacists will inform you about any costs either when you come for your appointment or when you make a booking via phone.

Our pharmacists have undergone training for the new service and possess all of the necessary qualifications to provide advice and guidance on the conditions included in this scheme.

In addition, they have received comprehensive training on identifying cases that fall outside the scope of the Pharmacy First scheme, and can refer you to the right service if needed.

Age restrictions are in place for each of the conditions covered by Pharmacy First. These restrictions aim to prioritise patient safety and ensure that the service delivers appropriate and high-quality care to all users. The following age limits apply:

• Sinusitis: Suitable for individuals aged 12 years and older.
• Sore throat: Applicable to individuals aged 5 years and above.
• Acute otitis media: Mild middle ear infection treatment provided for patients between the ages of 1 and 17 years.
• Infected insect bite: No age restrictions specified.
• Impetigo: Treatment available for individuals aged 1 year and older.
• Shingles: Only accessible to individuals aged 18 years and above.
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women: Restricted to women aged 16 to 64 years.

If you are uncertain whether you or a family member qualifies for the Pharmacy First scheme, please do not hesitate to contact our team on 020 8643 6787.

Our pharmacists will ask you about your symptoms, when they started, and whether they are improving or getting worse. In certain cases, we may need to carry out an examination to assess your symptoms more closely, such as if you come in to discuss an earache.

If you have any questions about the procedure or appointment, you can always ask our pharmacists about what will happen before the consultation commences. Plus, you are always welcome to bring along a trusted friend or family member to the appointment if it makes you feel more at ease.

At Gaiger Pharmacy we offer a wide range of pharmacy services such as emergency contraception, blood pressure checks, advice on stopping smoking, weight loss advice and prescription services.

We also offer a vaccination clinic that offers flu and COVID vaccinations which you can book an appointment for online at a time that suits you. Why not visit us at our pharmacy in Sutton to see how we can help you manage and improve your health.