Common Ailments – Free Pharmacy Service

The Common Ailment service should be considered as an alternative to GP referral for patients who need NHS advice and treatment for a number of common ailments.

What conditions are covered?

Pharmacists can offer advice and treatment for 26 agreed conditions. These are:

• Acne
• Athletes Foot
• Backache (acute)
• Chickenpox
• Cold sores* (Advice only)
• Colic*
• Conjunctivitis(bacterial)
• Constipation
• Dermatitis (acute)
• Diarrhoea* (Advice only)
• Dry Eye
• Haemorrhoids
• Hayfever
• Head Lice
• Indigestion/reflux
• Ingrowing toenail* (Advice Only)
• Intertrigo/ringworm
• Mouth Ulcers
• Nappy rash
• Oral thrush
• Scabies
• Sore throat/tonsillitis
• Teething
• Threadworm
• Vaginal thrush (Patients under 60 and not diabetic)
• Verruca

*there are no evidence based NHS treatments available for these conditions. Pharmacists will provide advice on self care and ongoing management of symptoms.

What about conditions not included (e.g. cough, cold, rash)?

Patients suffering with other conditions will not be able to access the Common Ailments service. They may however receive advice from the pharmacist and the option to buy medicines over the counter. If a pharmacist feels that the patient needs to be seen by the GP they will refer appropriately.

Can everyone be referred to the Common Ailments Service?

For some conditions there are exclusions based on

• Age
• Pregnancy/breastfeeding
• Clinical exclusions

These vary depending on the condition a summary of the exclusion criteria can be found on the following page. If you are unsure whether to refer to pharmacy please contact your local pharmacist for advice.

View local pharmacies

If you are unsure whether to refer to pharmacy or the GP please contact your local pharmacist for advice.