Pharmacy First Service
What is Pharmacy First?
The Pharmacy First scheme is an NHS initiative designed to offer professional healthcare advice and, treatment for seven common illnesses through your local pharmacy.
Available across most of our stores in England, no appointment is necessary, and our dedicated pharmacists can assist you in the privacy of a consultation room. It's a convenient way to address the health concerns covered by the service.
How Pharmacy First can help you
Pharmacy First provides easy access to prompt advice and treatment including prescription medicines, where appropriate, for seven common conditions. Here is the list of common conditions covered alongside the age criteria:
· Sinusitis (12 years and over)
· Sore throat (5 years and over)
· Earache (1–17 years)
· Infected insect bites and stings (1 year and older)
· Impetigo (1 year and older)
· Shingles (18 years and over)
· Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women (16-64 years)
Please note other eligibility criteria apply. If you are outside of the criteria a pharmacist may still be able to provide advice and care such as suggesting an over-the-counter treatment or if required refer you to another healthcare provider.
How to access Pharmacy First
It’s easy, just walk into a participating Boots Pharmacy and ask for help. You may also be referred by an NHS provider, like NHS 111, or your GP practice. Access to treatment as part of the NHS Pharmacy First service is subject to a suitability assessment with a pharmacist and charges may apply.
Pharmacy First seven conditions
The information provided should not be used to self-diagnose any of these conditions. If you have any symptoms, please seek medical advice.
Scotland - Pharmacy First Service
Wales - Common Ailment Service
Northern Ireland - Pharmacy First Service
NHS Pharmacy First is an England-only service providing advice and, if appropriate, treatment for seven common conditions at community pharmacies.
This service is available in most Boots stores across England from 31 January 2024.
Your pharmacist will provide advice and, if suitable, recommend appropriate treatment based on the condition and the symptoms; this could include a course of an antibiotic if deemed appropriate.
While consultations are free, charges may apply for treatment.
1 Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria may apply. Charges may apply.
2Access to treatment or test kits is subject to an online consultation with a clinician to assess suitability. Subject to availability. Charges apply.
3 Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria may apply.
9 Eligibility criteria and charges apply. Available in selected pharmacies, subject to availability.
10 Eligibility criteria and charges apply. In most Boots pharmacies, subject to availability. People aged 65 and over are also eligible for a free NHS pneumonia vaccination. If you’re over 65 and haven’t already had the NHS vaccination, speak to your doctor about having this. It’s a different type of vaccination to the one used in the Boots service so you may want to consider having both to further increase your protection against pneumonia. You may also be eligible for the NHS vaccination if you are under 65 and are living with a long-term health condition such as diabetes. The Boots Pneumonia Vaccination Service does not replace the need for the NHS vaccination.
11 Free health MOT available in participating stores. England only. Waist circumference & BMI checks optional. The NHS Blood Pressure Check Service is for adults aged 40+ that do not currently have a diagnosis of hypertension, adults under 40 that have a recognised family history of hypertension (at the pharmacist’s discretion) and adults referred by the GP for the measurement of blood pressure. Subject to availability.
12 Please note free home postal delivery is only available to patients registered with a GP in England. However, the option to collect in-store is available for all customers registered with a participating GP anywhere in the UK. For patients registered with a participating GP surgery only. Subject to availability. Prescription charges may apply.
13 Selected UK Boots pharmacies, subject to availability. Eligibility criteria apply. Please note this is not an NHS service.
16 To find out who may be eligible for a FREE NHS flu jab, see boots.com/flu for details. The free NHS (or other locally funded) flu jab is available in most Boots pharmacies in England and Wales and in some Boots pharmacies in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Jersey. Also available in our Isle of Man pharmacy. Eligibility criteria apply and vary with locality. Subject to availability. Some people who do not meet the requirements for a free NHS (or other locally funded) flu jab in pharmacies can access the flu jab from their GP or in Scotland, at a vaccination centre. Speak to a member of our pharmacy team or see boots.com/flu for more details.
22 Eligibility criteria apply. Available in selected pharmacies, subject to availability. Available in England only.
24 The services we offer can differ by store depending on the area, the services offered and commissioned within that locality. Please contact your local Pharmacy to find out if these services are available in your area.
27 The NHS Blood Pressure Check Service is for adults aged 40 years and over who do not currently have a diagnosis of hypertension, for adults under 40 years of age who have a recognised family history of hypertension may be tested at the discretion of the pharmacist, and adults who have been referred by their GP. Available in England only.
32 Supply of treatment is subject to a suitability assessment. In most stores in England only. Subject to availability and store opening hours. Charges may apply.
*Available in England only.
**Night Nurse Liquid, for cold symptom relief. Always read the label. Boots Dual Defence can shorten the duration and severity of cold and flu-like symptoms when used at first signs.
† Supply of treatment is subject to a suitability assessment. In most stores in England only. Subject to availability and store opening hours. Charges may apply.
