# What Can a Pharmacist Help With? | Pick My Pharmacy

URL: https://pickmypharmacy.co.uk/answers/what-can-a-pharmacist-help-with/
Description: Pharmacists can treat 7 common conditions under Pharmacy First, give health checks and vaccinations, and offer expert advice without an appointment.

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Using Your Pharmacy

# What can a pharmacist help with?

By [Kaiser Khan](/author/kaiser-khan/) · Updated 9 July 2026

In short

Pharmacists can assess and treat the 7 Pharmacy First conditions, supply emergency contraception and some ongoing medicines without a GP visit, give vaccinations and blood pressure checks, and offer expert advice on medicines and minor illnesses — all without an appointment.

At a glance

- ·Treat 7 conditions under NHS Pharmacy First (England)
- ·Supply certain prescription-only medicines when clinically appropriate
- ·Offer flu jabs, travel vaccines, and blood pressure checks
- ·Provide confidential advice on medicines, side effects, and minor ailments
- ·Can refer you to a GP or A&E when something needs further assessment

## Clinical services

Under Pharmacy First, pharmacists in England can assess and treat sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated UTIs, supplying prescription-only medicines like antibiotics where appropriate. They can also supply emergency contraception, provide the oral contraceptive pill under the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service, and support you through the New Medicine Service when starting a new long-term treatment.

## Health checks and vaccinations

Many pharmacies offer free NHS blood pressure checks for over-40s, seasonal flu vaccinations (free for eligible groups, private otherwise), and travel health consultations with private vaccinations.

## Everyday advice

You don't need an appointment to ask a pharmacist about medicine interactions, side effects, dosage, or minor ailments like coughs, colds, and skin complaints. Every pharmacy has a private consultation area for sensitive conversations, and pharmacists will always refer you onward — to a GP, urgent care, or A&E — if something needs further assessment.

Next step

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## People Also Ask
Can a pharmacist prescribe antibiotics?+
Yes, in specific circumstances — for the 7 Pharmacy First conditions in England where antibiotics are clinically indicated, and increasingly through independent prescribing pharmacists in some settings.
Do I need to book an appointment to speak to a pharmacist?+
No, most pharmacist consultations are walk-in, though busier pharmacies may ask you to wait or offer a specific time for privacy.

Keep reading

- [What is Pharmacy First?](/answers/what-is-pharmacy-first/)
- [Can a pharmacist prescribe antibiotics?](/answers/can-a-pharmacist-prescribe-antibiotics/)
- [What is the New Medicine Service?](/answers/what-is-the-new-medicine-service/)
- [Pharmacy First](/services/pharmacy-first/)
- [Blood pressure checks](/services/blood-pressure-checks/)

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This article is general information for UK patients, not medical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on [nhs.uk](https://www.nhs.uk) or speak to a pharmacist or GP before acting. For urgent medical help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from our[methodology](/methodology/).