# Earache Treatment (Pharmacy First) | Pick My Pharmacy URL: https://pickmypharmacy.co.uk/services/pharmacy-first-earache/ Description: Children aged 1-17 with earache can be assessed free under NHS Pharmacy First at participating pharmacies in England, with treatment where appropriate. --- - [Home](/) - /[Services](/services/) - /Pharmacy First Earache # Earache Treatment (Pharmacy First) Children aged 1-17 with earache can be assessed free under NHS Pharmacy First at participating pharmacies in England, with treatment where appropriate. Under NHS Pharmacy First, children and young people aged 1 to 17 with earache (acute otitis media) can be assessed free at participating pharmacies across England — no GP appointment needed; walk in or be referred by your GP practice or NHS 111. Most middle-ear infections clear up on their own within about three days, so the pharmacist's first job is checking whether your child actually needs antibiotics. Where the clinical pathway criteria are met — for example, a baby under two with both ears affected, ear discharge, or a child who is systemically unwell — the pharmacist can supply certain prescription-only medicines without a GP visit. Otherwise you'll get clear advice on pain relief (paracetamol or ibuprofen) and what to watch for. The consultation is free; in England the standard prescription charge of £9.90 applies to any supplied medicine unless you're exempt — under-16s are exempt anyway. Babies under 1 fall outside the pathway, so see a GP. Seek urgent help for swelling or redness behind the ear, severe headache, or a stiff neck. Find participating pharmacies via /pharmacies/locations/; see our Pharmacy First hub for the full scheme. In short Children aged 1-17 with earache can be assessed free under NHS Pharmacy First at participating pharmacies in England, with treatment where appropriate. Pick My Pharmacy compares GPhC-registered pharmacies offering pharmacy first earache side by side — services, indicative costs and reviews — free to use, and ratings cannot be bought. Typical cost Free on the NHS [Find pharmacies offering pharmacy first earache](/compare/)[Prescription savings guide](/guides/how-to-save-money-on-prescriptions/) ## 0 pharmacies offering pharmacy first earache Ratings and rankings are our editorial opinion, based on our published[methodology](/methodology/) — they are not medical advice and pharmacies cannot pay to change a score. Where a pharmacy has no reviews we show "Not yet rated" — we never invent scores.Listings labelled **Featured** or**Referral partner** are paid placements; payment affects visibility only, never ratings or match results. We may receive a fee when you send a private-service enquiry.Private service prices are indicative — always confirm directly with the pharmacy. ## Does your pharmacy offer pharmacy first earache? These cards are a sample of GPhC-registered premises with this service on file. Claim your listing so patients and AI search can find you. Featured placement is labelled and never changes a score. [Claim your listing](/claim/)[Partner pricing](/partners/) ## Frequently Asked Questions Can a pharmacist treat my child's ear infection?▼ Yes — under Pharmacy First in England, pharmacists assess earache in children aged 1 to 17 following a national clinical pathway, and can supply antibiotics where the criteria are met. Because most ear infections settle within about three days on their own, many children leave with pain-relief advice rather than antibiotics. When will the pharmacist supply antibiotics for earache?▼ Under the pathway, antibiotics are considered when a child is systemically unwell, has discharge from the ear, is under two with both ears affected, or whose symptoms are not settling. Otherwise regular paracetamol or ibuprofen and review if things worsen is the recommended approach. Does the Pharmacy First earache service cost anything?▼ The consultation is free on the NHS. Any medicine supplied for a child is free too — under-16s are exempt from prescription charges in England, and prescriptions are free for everyone in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland under their own schemes. When should I take my child to a GP instead?▼ Babies under 1 are outside the pathway, so go to the GP. Also seek GP or urgent care if your child seems seriously unwell, has swelling, redness, or tenderness behind the ear, a severe headache or stiff neck, dizziness, or symptoms that keep coming back — these can signal complications needing further assessment. Can adults use Pharmacy First for earache?▼ No — the earache pathway covers ages 1 to 17 only. Adults with ear pain can still ask a pharmacist for advice and over-the-counter pain relief, but assessment and any antibiotic treatment would be via a GP, or a private consultation at an online pharmacy.