Community Pharmacy

Now when you call your GP, you will be asked about your symptoms. If they indicate that you can best be helped by a pharmacist, you will be offered a same day private consultation with a community pharmacist of your choice.

Community pharmacists have already successfully seen thousands of patients for a consultation for a minor illness or injury.

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and experts in medicines. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for all sorts of minor conditions, and a same day consultation can be arranged quickly and at a time to suit you. This in turn frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.

We will share your personal details with the pharmacist and information of your minor condition. The pharmacist will contact you to arrange your consultation on the same day, or at a time that suits you.

You may be seen in person in a private consulting room, if the pharmacist thinks it appropriate, or your consultation may be carried out over the phone You will be asked about your medical history and symptoms and current medication, in the same way the GP would ask you about them.

Usually, the pharmacist will provide you with advice and can recommend over the counter products where needed.

Details of your consultation will then be added to your patient record, just as they would be if you have had an appointment with your GP.

If the pharmacist feels you need to be seen by a GP or other health professional, they can either help arrange this or can recommend which service you should contact.

Your pharmacist will provide you with advice on how to treat your symptoms, which may include a medicine or product. Medicines that can be purchased in a pharmacy to treat minor illnesses, are usually inexpensive and would not normally be prescribed by your GP. You are free to choose if you wish to make a purchase or not.

We want to ensure that you are offered an appointment with a qualified health care professional based on your symptoms at the earliest opportunity.

However, if you prefer, you can wait, and you will be offered a routine appointment with your GP at a future date.

Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practice and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you. If the pharmacist thinks you need to see a GP, they can help arrange an appointment for you.

Patients who have already used the service liked the convenience of having a consultation on the same day, or a day that suited them, at a pharmacy of their choice.