The Pharmacy First program offers professional healthcare advice, treatments, and medications for common minor ailments from your local pharmacy, eliminating the need for a doctor’s appointment.

In most cases, Pharmacy First is taking over from CPCS as a new method of accessing healthcare for minor illnesses, as well as providing referrals to other parts of the NHS for minor ailments and urgent repeat prescriptions.

Through the Pharmacy First program, our qualified pharmacists can now provide treatment for sinusitis, a sore throat, earaches, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women under the age of 65, without requiring a consultation with a GP or a prescription.

Under the new Pharmacy First program, our pharmacists now have the ability to conduct consultations and prescribe antibiotics when deemed appropriate. This program has implemented a strict protocol for dispensing medications, including antibiotics, and our team diligently adheres to these guidelines to ensure that you receive the proper care.

The primary objective of this service and the authorisation to prescribe medication is to provide our patients with easier access to the necessary assistance for minor illnesses, eliminating the need to visit a general practitioner. In cases where we believe further tests are necessary or the illness has progressed, we will refer you to the appropriate healthcare service to ensure you get the right treatment as quickly as possible.

To help you get the right guidance and care, we suggest scheduling an appointment online. By doing so, you can minimise waiting times and ensure prompt access to the appropriate treatment. You can use our online booking form to quickly book an appointment at a time that suits you.

If you’re uncertain about the specific service you require, please feel free to reach out to our pharmacists at 020 8393 1000.

Speaking with a member of our pharmacy team through the Pharmacy First program does not incur any charges. However, if you typically pay for your prescriptions, there may be some fees. Our pharmacists will inform you of any costs when you come in for your appointment or when you schedule over the phone.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask our pharmacists. We’re here to help!

All our pharmacists have undergone training for this new service and possess the necessary qualifications to provide guidance on the conditions included in this scheme and dispense medications when deemed suitable. Moreover, they have received thorough training on identifying situations where referral is required if the ailment falls outside the scope of the Pharmacy First scheme so you always get the right care.

Pharmacy First has age restrictions in place for each of the conditions it covers. These restrictions are implemented to prioritise patient safety and ensure that everyone receives appropriate and high-quality care. The age limits for each condition are as follows:

• Sinusitis: 12 years and older
• Sore throat: 5 years and older
• Acute otitis media: mild middle ear infection for patients between 1 and 17 years
• Infected insect bite: all ages
• Impetigo: 1 year and older
• Shingles: 18 years and older
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women: women aged 16 to 64 years

If you’re unsure whether you or a family member qualifies for the Pharmacy First scheme, please don’t hesitate to contact our team on 020 8393 1000. They will be happy to assist you.

Our pharmacists will ask you about your symptoms, when they started and their severity, and whether they are getting worse. In certain situations, we may need to conduct an examination to assess the seriousness of your symptoms, for example if you come in to discuss an earache we may need to examine your ears.

If you have any inquiries regarding the procedure or how the appointment works, you can always ask our pharmacists for an explanation before the appointment starts. Additionally, if it puts you at ease, you are welcome to bring a trusted friend or family member to accompany you during the appointment.

At Miles Pharmacy & Travel Clinic we offer a wide range of pharmacy services such as emergency contraception, blood pressure checks, advice on stopping smoking, weight loss advice and prescription services.

Our Travel Vaccine Clinic can get you fit to fly in no time offering a range of travel vaccinations and guidance as well as any PCR tests you need. We also offer a vaccination clinic that offers flu and COVID vaccinations which you can book an appointment for online.