What is Pharmacy First ?
Pharmacy First allows community pharmacies to provide expert assistance for common conditions like sore throats, earwax, acne, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). You can also buy over-the-counter medicines (which don’t need a prescription from your doctor) and get prescribed medicines from a pharmacy.
Pharmacy First aims to help people access appropriate care conveniently, without needing to visit their GP practice or local A&E for non-urgent treatment. This service can save time and reduce pressure on other healthcare services.
See your Pharmacy First for:
Everyday Health Conditions
This service is offered from every community pharmacy in NI and provides advice and if necessary treatment for conditions such as:
Emergency Hormonal Contraception (the morning after pill)
The morning after pill is available from the majority of pharmacies across Northern Ireland.
If you are aged 13 or older, you can now get the morning after pill free from community pharmacies across Northern Ireland. Find a pharmacy near you offering this service on this map.
When using this service, you will receive a private and confidential consultation with the pharmacist without the need to make an appointment. The pharmacist will provide sexual health advice which includes the risks of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and how to obtain free tests if needed.
As well as providing free emergency contraception, the pharmacist will give you advice about regular methods of contraception. They may also give you a free three months’ supply of the contraceptive pill.
What is the morning after pill?
- The morning after pill is taken after unprotected sex to help prevent an unplanned pregnancy
- You can take the morning after pill up to five days after unprotected sex but the sooner you take it the more effective it will be.
- The morning after pill is not an abortion. It aims to prevent pregnancy by delaying the release of an egg. It does not work if taken after the egg has been released.
- Your pharmacist will advise you to use additional contraception in the days following emergency contraception.
- Although emergency contraception is available to those under 16 years of age there are guidelines when providing it. Your pharmacist will discuss these with you at the time.
- The most effective emergency contraceptive is the copper coil. For more information on how to access this, Sexual Health NI
Community pharmacies across Northern Ireland will be able to provide further information about the service and have information leaflets available.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
If you are female and aged between 16 and 64 you can be assessed and treated for Urinary Tract Infection symptoms in the majority of community pharmacies without having to wait for a GP appointment.
- A UTI can affect your bladder, urethra and kidneys.
- Symptoms include a burning sensation when peeing and needing to pee urgently or more often than usual.
- Following advice from your pharmacist many UTIs can be treated with simple medications that help with pain and fever.
- Many UTIs clear up in a few days without the need for an antibiotic
You will have a confidential consultation with the pharmacist in a private area of the pharmacy. Your symptoms will be assessed and a urine sample taken if necessary.
The pharmacist will provide advice regarding self-care and what to do if your symptoms do not clear up or get worse. Treatment to relieve UTI symptoms is free of charge and an antibiotic may be provided if needed.
They may provide further advice or refer you to your GP if your symptoms have not cleared up or have got worse.
Sore Throat
Sore throats are very common and are usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better within a week. Most are caused by minor illnesses, such as colds or flu and can be treated at home. For more information on managing a please refer to sore throat guidance from nidirect
Anyone aged 5 years and above with a sore throat can access the service in a participating pharmacy.
The pharmacist will offer a confidential consultation in a private area of the pharmacy where they will discuss how you are feeling and the symptoms you are experiencing.
The pharmacist may carry out a test, usually a throat swab, to help diagnose the cause of the sore throat if needed. Not everyone will need one.
Treatment is available free of charge to relieve symptoms such as pain and fever. The pharmacist will also offer advice.
Sore throats are normally caused by viral infections and will normally go away by themselves, however community pharmacists will provide advice and treatment where appropriate should a bacterial sore throat be diagnosed.
If your symptoms do not improve or get worse the pharmacist may advise you to see your doctor.
Self-care and first aid
Self-care is the best choice to treat minor illnesses, ailments and injuries.
You can treat common illnesses and complaints, such as aches and pains, coughs, colds, upset stomachs and sore throats with over-the-counter medicines and plenty of rest.
Most of these conditions improve whether you get treatment or not.
Over-the-counter products
In a pharmacy you can buy over-the-counter:
- paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen
- rehydration mixtures
- indigestion remedies
- plasters
- a thermometer
It is important to follow the instructions on the pack.
First aid
First aid can treat all sorts of minor bumps and scrapes. You may want to think about getting a first aid kit for your house or training in first aid so that you are prepared to deal with minor accidents.
Information on what to include in a first aid kit is available at:
Health conditions A to Z
Health conditions A to Z contains information on a number of common illnesses and conditions.
It includes:
- information on symptoms and related illnesses
- details on how to treat less serious symptoms yourself
- advice on when seek medical help from your GP or pharmacist
