Local pharmacists in Forth Valley can provide free treatment and expert advice for many common conditions through the Pharmacy First service – no GP appointment or prescription needed.
They can help with conditions such as sinusitis, sore throat, earache, insect bites, impetigo, shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
What else pharmacists can help with
- Emergency contraception and an initial 3-month supply of the progestogen-only pill
- Antibiotics for children and young people, including:
- Penicillin V for children aged 5+ with acute sore throats
- Flucloxacillin for skin infections in patients up to 17 years old
- A free sharps disposal service for people who use injectable treatments (e.g. for diabetes)
Pharmacy First Plus
Pharmacy First Plus is an additional service available in over 35 pharmacies in the Forth Valley area. Pharmacists providing the service are experienced prescribers. They can provide advice and treatment for a wider range of common but more complex conditions than the standard Pharmacy First service available in all local pharmacies.
This includes antibiotics, if appropriate, for more complex conditions such as UTIs, chest infections, sore ears, sore throats and sinusitis, which can help avoid the need to visit your GP practice.
Not all local pharmacies provide the Pharmacy First Plus service, so it’s a good idea to call ahead to check whether a prescribing pharmacist is available before visiting. Contact details for participating pharmacies are listed below.
Patient information
Reviewing your medicines
If you take prescribed medication, you should have this reviewed regularly as things can change over time and:
- You may be experiencing side effects
- Your health may have changed if you have developed a new condition or there has been a change in an existing condition
- You may no longer need the medicine
Any of these reasons may mean that certain medicines are no longer right for you. If you have any questions or concerns about your medication, please speak to your GP practice or local pharmacist for advice, or use the Manage My Meds website or app.
Medicine reviews can be carried out by a doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This may happen during an appointment for a health issue, or you can arrange a separate appointment specifically to review your medicines.
The review is likely to last between 15 and 30 minutes, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and raise any concerns.
The healthcare professional may suggest changes if they feel this would benefit your health. This could include switching to a different medicine, adjusting the dose, changing when you take it, or stopping a medicine if it is no longer needed.
Common questions about medicines and waste
Medicines cannot be reused or recycled once they have been dispensed.
Over-ordering can lead to medicines going to waste if your prescription or health needs change. Please order only what you need, when you need it.
If your health has changed, you may not need some of your medicines anymore. Speak to your GP practice or pharmacist about a medication review.
Although prescriptions are free, they still have a cost to the NHS and the environment. On average, each medicine costs £11 to dispense across Forth Valley, and around 10% of medicines go to waste.
Remember to check your medicines regularly, especially before holidays.
Find local pharmacies
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