NHS Minor Ailments Scheme

Every year, millions of us visit our GP with minor health problems that a local pharmacy could help with.

By visiting your pharmacy instead of your GP, you could save yourself time and trouble – no need to book an appointment, just walk in. This also means your GP can focus on treating people who are sicker than you.

Pharmacists can help recognise and treat many common illnesses. They can give advice and where appropriate, recommend over-the-counter medicines that could help clear up the problem.

If they think you need to see a GP for your illness, they will advise you to do that.

In some parts of the country, there are NHS minor ailment schemes. These allow pharmacies to provide you with medicines for free on the NHS, as well as giving you advice and support about how to care for minor conditions yourself.

Anyone who doesn’t normally have to pay for prescriptions from their GP – for example because they’re under 16, over 60 or on benefits – is eligible for the scheme and will not need to pay for the medicine that the pharmacist suggests.

Local pharmacies taking part in this scheme as of May 2018:

• Weldricks Pharmacy (Eckington Road)
• Whitworth Chemist (Queens Road)
• Peak Pharmacy (at Morrisons)
• Boots Pharmacy (Crystal Peaks)
• Lloyds Pharmacy (Crystal Peaks)
• Lloyds Pharmacy (Mosborough)

Your pharmacy may be able to help with:

• mild skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, impetigo, athlete’s foot
• coughs and colds, including blocked nose (nasal congestion), and sore throats
• bruises, sunburn, and minor burns and scalds
• constipation and piles (haemorrhoids)
• hay fever, dry eyes and allergies (including rashes, bites and stings)
• aches and pains, including earache, headache, migraine, back pain and toothache
• vomiting, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhoea and threadworms
• period pain, thrush and cystitis
• head lice (nits)
• conjunctivitis, cold sores and mouth ulcers
• warts and verrucas
• nappy rash and teething

Further information is available by clicking clicking here