If you have a minor illness, a pharmacy is the first place you should go for advice. The Pharmacy First service is quick and convenient, and can save you a trip to the GP practice. You can go to any local community pharmacy and use this service if you live in Scotland or are registered with a GP in Scotland.
Your local pharmacist or a trained member of the pharmacy team will give you advice and provide medicine if needed. This can include prescription medicines in some cases. They can advise you on conditions such as: Acne, Allergies, Athlete’s foot, Backache, Colds, Cold sores, Constipation, Cough, Cystitis (women only), Diarrhoea, Earache, Eczema, Headache, Headlice, Haemorrhoids, Hay fever, Impetigo, Indigestion, Mouth Ulcers, Pain, Sore throat, Threadworms, Thrush, Urinary Tract Infections, Verrucas and Warts.
The service is confidential, and many community pharmacies now offer private consulting spaces.
Your pharmacist can refer you to another healthcare professional such as your GP practice, dentist, optometrist or another NHS service if they feel your condition needs further investigation or more specialist care.
For more details see NHS Inform (where you can also find guidance on self-help for a range of common conditions):