Treated here on the NHS, free, no GP appointment
The Common Ailments Service
In Wales the pharmacist can assess and treat twenty-six common conditions on the NHS, free, without a GP appointment: sore throat, UTI, conjunctivitis, hay fever, athlete's foot, head lice, threadworm, cold sores, dry skin, indigestion and more. Ask at the counter; we see you in the consultation room.
The Welsh Common Ailments Service is the best-kept secret on the high street. For a list of twenty-six everyday problems, the pharmacist can assess you, treat you and give you the medicine on the NHS, free, with no GP appointment, and refer you on if it is something else. We do about forty of these a week.
The list covers the things people used to wait a fortnight to see the GP about: sore throats, with a swab test and antibiotics if it is bacterial; urinary tract infections in women, with antibiotics if appropriate; conjunctivitis, hay fever, acne, athlete's foot, cold sores, dry skin and eczema, head lice, threadworm, indigestion and reflux, constipation, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, mouth ulcers, nappy rash, oral thrush, vaginal thrush, scabies, ringworm, chickenpox, backache, teething and verrucas.
Ask at the counter and we take you into the consultation room. The pharmacist asks about symptoms, checks it is on the list and safe to treat, and either gives you the medicine on the NHS or tells you plainly that it needs the GP or the hospital and why. Everything is recorded and your surgery is told, so your notes stay complete. Children are seen with a parent; most of the list applies to them too.
What is included
- Twenty-six conditions assessed and treated free
- Sore throat and UTI with tests and antibiotics where appropriate
- No appointment, a consultation room, ten minutes
- Children seen with a parent
- Your GP told, so your notes stay complete
- Referred on, with a reason, if it is not for us
What it costs
Free on the NHS for anyone registered with a Welsh GP. No appointment; a wait of ten minutes or so at busy times. Some conditions now include a prescription-only antibiotic after a test. Prices include VAT where it applies. The prices page has every price, the travel vaccine table, and what the NHS covers.
Questions about common ailments
Is it really free?
Yes. The assessment and the medicine are both free on the NHS for anyone registered with a Welsh GP. Nothing to pay at the counter.
Can you give antibiotics?
For sore throats and uncomplicated UTIs in women, yes, after a test or assessment, under the NHS service. For anything else that needs an antibiotic we refer you to the GP the same day.
Order a prescription, or book a service.
Repeat prescriptions ordered on the prescriptions page are ready in two working days, collected or delivered free. Flu jabs, travel vaccines, blood pressure checks and medicines reviews are booked with the form or by ringing the shop.