Parents and carers in Humber and North Yorkshire are being reminded to use their local community pharmacy this summer, if their child needs help with minor illnesses or ailments.
The NHS Pharmacy First service allows children to access treatment for five common conditions from their local pharmacy, without needing a GP appointment.
Children can receive NHS treatment, including antibiotics where appropriate, for five common conditions including:
- impetigo (aged one year and over)
- infected insect bites (aged one year and over)
- earache (aged one to 17 years)
- sore throat (aged five years and over)
- sinusitis (aged 12 years and over).
The aim of Pharmacy First is to make it easier for people to get the help they need and free up millions of GP slots.
Parents can simply walk into a participating pharmacy and request a consultation for their child. If further treatment is needed, pharmacy teams will signpost families to the most appropriate local health service.
Hayley Patterson, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB’s Pharmacy Lead, said: “As the school holidays approach, we are encouraging parents and carers to think Pharmacy First if their child is unwell, allowing them to be seen quickly and conveniently at their local pharmacy.
“The scheme enables community pharmacists, who are trained health professionals, to supply prescription-only medicines, where clinically appropriate, to treat five health conditions for children which would previously have required a GP appointment.”
The Pharmacy First scheme is also available for adults and covers the following seven common conditions:
- sinusitis (adults and children aged 12 years and over)
- sore throat (adults and children aged five years and over)
- earache (children and young adults aged one to 17 years)
- infected insect bite (adults and children aged one year and over)
- impetigo (adults and children aged one year and over)
- shingles (adults aged 18 years and over)
- uncomplicated urinary tract infection (women aged 16 to 64 years).
To find a local pharmacy to you visit the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/find-a-pharmacy
There’s further information about what pharmacies can do at Let’s Get Better: www.letsgetbetter.co.uk/get-the-right-care/pharmacy/