Pharmacy First Services
The Pharmacy First Scheme is available at local chemists and offers free treatments and advice for everyday health conditions such as:
- Acne
- Athletes Foot
- Diarrhoea
- Earwax
- Groin Infection
- Haemorrhoids
- Headlice
- Mouth Ulcers
- Oral Thrush
- Scabies
- Threadworms
- Vaginal Thrush
- Verrucae
You can also avail of over the counter treatment and adivce for:
- coughs
- colds
- eye conditions
- stomach upsets
- skin conditions
- allergies
- aches and pains
- common drugs, vitamins and minor first-aid
- healthy eating and living, including giving up smoking
- blood pressure and diabetes monitoring and needle exchange
- truss fittings
- stoma products and incontinence supplies
- women’s health, including:
- treatment for thrush
- emergency contraception and pregnancy testing
- children’s health, including:
- nappy rash
- teething
- coughs and colds
- threadworms
- head lice
- warts and verrucas
- all prescribed and over-the-counter medicines
When a pharmacist may be able to help: Pharmacy first scheme info:
Pharmacy First Services are offered in the majority of community pharmacies across NI. These services provide an opportunity for suitable patients to attend community pharmacies for advice and treatment for a range of conditions.
- Everyday Health Conditions: The box below outlines the conditions available and a protocol for GP practice reception staff is available on the PCI at https://bso.hscni.net/wp-
content/uploads/2022/11/PF- Service-Receptionist-Protocol- everyday-health-conditions.pdf
- Emergency Hormonal Contraception: This service provides Sexual Health Advice including risks of STIs and how to get tested, emergency contraception and if clinically appropriate 3 months’ supply of desogestrel bridging contraception, safe-guarding, and signposting.
The service is available to women and young people aged 13 years and above.
Further details (including a providers list) are available at Pharmacy First : Emergency Hormonal Contraception – Business Services Organisation (BSO) Website (hscni.net)
- UTI service for female patients aged 16 to 64 years: This service facilitates the assessment and treatment of women aged 16-64 years presenting with symptoms of uncomplicated LUTI
Further details are available at Pharmacy First: Service – Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in women aged 16-64 years – Business Services Organisation (BSO) Website (hscni.net)
Resources include:
- Training materials for GP practice staff
- GP flowchart outlining the exclusion criteria (attached for convenience)