Looking for Help with a Health Concern?
Before booking an appointment, consider these quick and convenient NHS alternatives that may help you get the care you need without waiting.
Why Use These Services?
Using these alternatives helps ensure that GP appointments remain available for those who need them most, especially patients with complex or ongoing health needs. Pharmacists are highly trained professionals who can offer safe, effective treatment and advice for many common conditions—often without the wait.
🩺 NHS 111 Online Symptom Checker
A digital triage tool available at 111.nhs.uk, designed to help you decide what to do next based on your symptoms.
Referral options: May direct you to local services including pharmacies, urgent treatment centres, or your GP. [The NHS Mi…l pharmacy]
Who can use it? Anyone aged 5 and over
How it works: You answer questions about your main symptom, and the system advises whether you need self-care, a pharmacist, urgent care, or a callback from a nurse.
Limitations: It does not provide a diagnosis, and can only assess one symptom at a time.
💊 Pharmacy First Service
This NHS service allows trained community pharmacists to treat seven common conditions—without needing a GP appointment.
Availability: Over 95% of pharmacies in England are part of the scheme.
Conditions covered:
Earache (ages 1–17)
Sore throat (ages 5+)
Sinusitis (ages 12+)
Impetigo (ages 1+)
Infected insect bites (ages 1+)
Shingles (ages 18+)
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (women aged 16–64)
Access: Walk into a participating pharmacy or contact them directly.
Cost: Usual NHS prescription charges apply unless exempt.
🧴 Minor Ailments Service
This NHS service allows eligible patients to receive free treatment and advice for a wide range of minor conditions directly from a pharmacist.
How to access: Register at a participating pharmacy. You may need to show proof of eligibility.
Who is eligible?
Children under 16 (or under 19 in full-time education)
Adults aged 60+
Those with a valid exemption certificate (e.g. maternity, medical, war pension)
People receiving certain benefits (e.g. Universal Credit, Income Support)
You must be registered with a GP and not living in a care home [The NHS Mi…l pharmacy]
Conditions commonly treated:
Athlete’s foot, constipation, cough, diarrhoea, earache, hay fever, head lice, indigestion, insect bites/stings, mouth ulcers, sore throat, sprains/strains, teething, threadworm, vaginal thrush, warts/verrucas, and more [MAS Patien…- complete]
Contact us online
If you have considered these other options and still require to contact us online please click here.