NHS Pharmacy First
As part of a national initiative called NHS Pharmacy First Scotland, pharmacists are able to offer free treatment for a range of common health conditions without the need for a prescription. These include urine infections, impetigo, skin infections, shingles, conjunctivitis, thrush and eczema. Pharmacists across Forth Valley also provide a local service which provides free treatment and advice for minor skin conditions such as dermatitis and allergic reactions to insect bites. Pharmacies can also provide an initial 3-month supply of the progestogen-only pill as well as emergency contraception.
In addition, parents in Forth Valley with children suffering from sore throats or skin infections that may need antibiotics can receive Penicillin V for children over 5 with acute sore throats and Flucloxacillin for skin infections in young people up to the age of 17.
Pharmacies also offer a free sharps disposal service for diabetic patients and other whose self-treatment requires injections.
For more info about NHS Pharmacy First, visit NHS Inform.
There is no need to make an appointment – just walk into any pharmacy to access the expert advice and services on offer.
Your Local Pharmacy
It’s important that you don’t run out of essential medicines and you should check which items are needed, especially before holiday periods and long weekends. However, medicines which you receive regularly on repeat prescription from your GP should not be hoarded and you should only order items you require…
Remember:
THINK before you order
CHECK what medicines you still have
ORDER only what you need
If you run out of your regular medicines and can’t obtain a prescription from your GP, your local community pharmacy may be able to give you an urgent supply of repeat medication or refer you to your local NHS Out of Hours service. If you receive a prescription from the NHS Primary Care Out-of-Hours service they will be able to direct you to a pharmacy which can dispense it.
Local pharmacists in Forth Valley are also able to offer free treatment for a range of common health conditions without the need for a prescription. These include urinary tract infections, impetigo, bacterial conjunctivitis, vaginal thrush, skin conditions such as eczema and contact dermatitis and skin infections such as cellulitis, insect bites and nail infections.
Remember turning up at an Emergency Department because you have run out of your regular medicines may cause delays for patients who are seriously ill.
Read Medicines in Scotland: What’s the right treatment for me? for more information.
Find Local Pharmacies
Find your nearest Pharmacy using our Service Finder.
Did You Know?
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In Forth Valley there are 70 community pharmacies spread across the entire region who, between them, dispensed more than five million prescriptions last year.
- Community pharmacies offer a range of services including: emergency contraception, advice and treatment to stop smoking, travel advice, weight management, health checks and many more.
- Unused medicines cost the health service in Forth Valley £5 million each year. This is the equivalent of 800 hip replacements or 600 heart by-pass operations so please order only the medicines that you require. Some community pharmacies in Forth Valley also provide other pharmaceutical services including: Oxygen service, Palliative care, Stoma service and Disposal of pharmaceutical waste.