"Think Pharmacy First” | News and events

Next week is National Self Care Week (17-23 November 2025), and the local NHS is encouraging people to “Think Pharmacy First”, by sharing a list of common conditions that community pharmacy teams can provide treatment or medication for, without a GP appointment.

Since the service’s launch in England in January 2024, there have been 131,284 Pharmacy First appointments across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Royston, including 59,742 so far this year. The most treated conditions are acute sore throat, uncomplicated urinary tract infections, and acute otitis media (inner ear infection).

You can visit your local participating pharmacy to receive expert advice without needing to book an appointment; simply walk-in and ask for a Pharmacy First consultation. GP practices, NHS 111 and emergency care providers may also direct you to the service.

The seven common conditions that you can receive treatment or if needed, prescription medication for, without seeing a doctor, are:

• sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
• earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
• sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
• impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
• infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
• shingles (aged 18 years and over)
• uncomplicated urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years) 

While consultations and advice through Pharmacy First are provided at no cost, standard NHS prescription charges will apply if medication is needed. For anyone are already exempt from prescription charges, they will continue to receive theirs free of charge.

Local pharmacists can provide oral contraception (the pill), free of charge. This includes starting it or a different oral contraceptive for the first time, or continuing a supply previously prescribed by a GP or sexual health service. From October 2025, it’s now possible to get oral emergency contraception (the morning after pill) free of charge from local pharmacies. There’s no need to book a GP appointment or visit a sexual health clinic.

Sati Ubhi, Chief Pharmacist at NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, said: “Pharmacies have always been at the heart of their communities, playing a key role in helping local people healthy. Now, with services like Pharmacy First, they’re giving you more choice in how and where you get care, while also helping to free up GP appointments for those who need them most.

“Visiting your pharmacy is a simple and convenient way to get support, whether it’s for minor illnesses like coughs and colds, or vaccinations such as flu, COVID-19 and in some cases, travel vaccines. Many pharmacies have private consultation rooms, so you can talk in confidence and get expert advice, recommended treatments, and help with urgent repeat prescriptions.

You can find out more about how https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/ or find a pharmacy near you https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy/