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. 

Please complete the digital triage on the link below to see if your condition is appropriate for self-referral.

A limited supply of repeat prescription medicine can be requested via NHS 111 when a patient has completely run out. This can be done via the NHS111 Emergency Prescription Link

Advice and treatment

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 (this is called Pharmacy First). Conditions they can treat as part of Pharmacy First are:

•  earache (aged 1 to 17 years)

•  impetigo (aged 1 year and over)- a contagious skin infection

•  infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)

•  shingles (aged 18 years and over)- infection that causes a painful rash

•  sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)- infection of the sinuses (behind the forehead, cheeks and nose)

•  sore throat (aged 5 years and over)

•  urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)

Click here to fill in an assessment and self refer online if you have one of these conditions or you can walk into your local pharmacy.

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 till we are open, for quicker response please walk into your local pharmacy.

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. Click here to find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks.

Please be aware that when you register with The Open Door Surgery or Bec Family Practice our Clinical team strongly believe in the national vaccination and health care program. We expect all patients to take part in regular health checks and show 100% commitment to attend all appoints. As a patient this serves a tremendous benefit and will allow you to live life to the full, with good health.

If you do not participate in the national program and show a lack of commitment by not attending regular health checks, screenings and vaccinations etc. it makes it very difficult for us to look after you to the standard we expect as a practice.

To help us, to help you, please fully engage in your own healthcare so that we can maximise the service and care we provide to you.

You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more.

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