Pharmacy First in Birmingham

Pharmacy First is an NHS service designed to make it easier for people to receive assessment and treatment for certain common health conditions through their local pharmacy.

Instead of arranging a GP appointment first, eligible patients can speak directly to a trained pharmacy professional who will assess their symptoms and recommend the appropriate next step.

Your consultation begins with a discussion about your symptoms and relevant health information.

Our pharmacy team will assess whether your condition falls within the Pharmacy First service and whether treatment is appropriate. Depending on the outcome, you may receive advice, suitable treatment or be referred to another healthcare professional if further assessment is needed.

Pharmacy First covers seven conditions:

Earache – ages 1–17
Impetigo – age 1+
Infected insect bites – age 1+
Shingles – age 18+
Sinusitis – age 12+
Sore throat – age 5+
Uncomplicated UTIs in women – ages 16–64

Eligibility also depends on your symptoms and individual circumstances, which will be assessed during your consultation.

No. One of the main benefits of Pharmacy First is that eligible patients can access assessment and treatment for these seven conditions directly through participating pharmacies.

If your symptoms fall outside the scope of the service or require further investigation, our team will advise you on the most appropriate next step.

Where clinically appropriate and within the NHS Pharmacy First service, our trained pharmacy team can provide advice and suitable treatment for eligible conditions.

The treatment offered will depend on your symptoms, medical history and the outcome of your consultation.

Not every patient or condition will be suitable for treatment through Pharmacy First.

If your symptoms require further investigation, are particularly severe or fall outside the service criteria, our pharmacy team will advise you to contact your GP, NHS 111 or another appropriate healthcare service.