Minor Injuries - Think Pharmacy First

Minor Injuries - GP Referral Service

Pharmacy First also includes elements from the previously commissioned Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS). These elements enable you to have a consultation with a community pharmacist for minor injuries and conditions such as coughs and colds, itchy eyes, and earache.  

For this service, our staff will make the appointment for you with the community pharmacy, which will either be the same day or within 12 hours depending on the time you contact us. You can also be referred through NHS 111 or another medical or emergency care setting, but you cannot self-refer. 

The benefits of the GP referral service for you: 

• You will be referred by the practice and you can visit the pharmacy, or the pharmacist will contact you by phone for a confidential consultation.
• You can be seen more quickly as community pharmacies are usually open for longer and at weekends. 
• The pharmacist will give you advice on how to treat your condition, which means you can start to recover more quickly.  
• You can choose a pharmacy that is near your home or work – whichever is the most convenient for you.  
• Depending on your condition the pharmacist may recommend over-the-counter medication which you can choose to purchase if you wish. Often, over-the-counter treatments are inexpensive and cheaper than prescription medication.  
• If the pharmacist believes your symptoms suggest a more serious condition, they will help you arrange an urgent GP appointment or escalate to an urgent care setting.  
• The pharmacist will make a record of the outcome of your consultation and will send this via secure digital messaging to your GP – so that your records are always up to date.