Think Pharmacy First!  

 

Pharmacists can give you advice on a range of conditions and suggest medicines that can help. They may also be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP.

Many conditions can be treated without the need to see your GP.

  • The pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or another healthcare professional if needed.
  • Pharmacies will update your GP health record.
  • If you are not within these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.
  • Please note on weekends online self-referral may take longer as the practice is closed and will not look at your assessment until we are open, for a quicker response please walk into your local pharmacy.

NHS - Find a Pharmacy

Emergency prescriptions - NHS 111

Use this service to request a limited emergency supply of a medicine you’ve completely run out of.

This must be a medicine you are prescribed regularly, through a repeat prescription.

Getting the contraceptive pill without a prescription

You may be able to get the contraceptive pill from a pharmacy if you need to:

  • start the contraceptive pill for the first time
  • take the contraceptive pill again after a break from using it
  • If you already have a prescription for the contraceptive pill, you can use the prescription as usual. Or you can get the pill from a pharmacy without a prescription if you prefer.

Find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription.

Get a free blood pressure check

You can get a free blood pressure checked at a pharmacy without seeing a GP, if you:

  • are aged 40 or over
  • live in England

You cannot get a free blood pressure check if you:

  • already have high blood pressure
  • have had your blood pressure checked by a healthcare professional in the past 6 months

Some pharmacies offer a free blood pressure check.

Minor Illnesses - Digital Triage

Patients are now able to refer themselves to a Pharmacy for minor illnesses, such as:

  • Cold or Flu symptoms
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Diarrhoea
  • Skin / Rash issues
  • Hay Fever

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and can offer clinical advice and medicines for all sorts of minor ailments, with a same day consultation at a time that suits you.

Fill an assessment and self-refer online if you have any of the 7 conditions listed above.

The NHS App

Old Coulsdon Medical Practice would like to invite you to use The NHS App

Owned and run by the NHS, the NHS App is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.

FIND OUT MORE AND DOWNLOAD THE APP

NHS App image

What The NHS App does

Use the NHS App to:

  • get advice about coronavirus – get information about coronavirus and find out what to do if you think you have it
  • order repeat prescriptions - see your available medicines, request a new repeat prescription and choose a pharmacy for your prescriptions to be sent to
  • book appointments - search for, book and cancel appointments at your GP surgery, and see details of your upcoming and past appointments
  • check your symptoms - search trusted NHS information and advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments, and get instant advice or medical help near you
  • view your medical record - securely access your GP medical record, to see information like your allergies and your current and past medicines
  • register your organ donation decision - choose to donate some or all of your organs and check your registered decision
  • find out how the NHS uses your data - choose if data from your health records is shared for research and planning