Visit your pharmacy first

Pharmacists are trained healthcare professionals, specialising in medicines.

Community Pharmacy teams offer a wealth of knowledge and expertise to patients with minor ailments such as coughs and colds, aches and pains.

Pharmacists' can also help you decide if it is appropriate to seek medical advice from the GP practice.

In most cases you will be able to buy over-the-counter products to self treat your symptoms.
There are more medicines then ever available over-the-counter, which you can purchase without the need of a prescription.

GP surgeries will generally not give you a prescription for over the counter medication.

With many pharmacies opening evenings and weekends, it is a convenient way to get medical advice. You do not even need to book an appointment!

See our self-help pages or your local pharmacy for advice with the following:

Pharmacy First Aid

Community Pharmacists can, if appropriate, supply antibiotics for the following conditions. 

  • UTI's - females age 16-64 years
  • Impetigo- Adults and children aged 1 and over
  • Acute sore throat - Adults and children aged 5 and over
  • Shingles - Adults aged 18 and over
  • Infected insect bites - Adults and children aged 1 and over
  • Acute sinusitis - Adults and children aged 12 and over
  • Acute Otitis media (middle ear infection) - Children age 1-17 years

Some local pharmacies are also able to prescribe for additional ear symptoms, bacterial eye infections, and some skin conditions.

Restrictions apply and in certain circumstances a patient may be directed to alternative health providers.

Contraception

Trained Pharmacists can provide advice and prescriptions free of charge for the following:

  • Combined Oral Contraception pill (COC)
    Individuals - 16 and up to and including 49 years 
  • Mini pill /progesterone only pill
    (POP)
    Individuals - 16 and up to and including
    54 years 
Hypertension

Patients aged over 18 years old (no upper limit) can request and be referred for blood pressure check. 

This is suitable for patients who have had a previous diagnosis of hypertension

  • Blood pressure clinic check
  • Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring ( 24hour blood pressure recording) 

These services can be accessed via patient self-referral as well as an informal practice referral.

Please discuss suitability with the pharmacy team.

Local Services Available
Local pharmacies who are currently offering these services? 
  • Silvermans Knowle
  • Well North Street
  • Superdrug Bedminster
  • Asda Bedminster
  • Badhams Knowle 
  • Superdrug Knowle