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.
What is Pharmacy First Earache?
Children aged 1-17 with earache can be assessed free under NHS Pharmacy First at participating pharmacies in England, with treatment where appropriate.
Pharmacy First in England is a commissioned NHS clinical pathway. An NHS dispensing contract is not proof this branch offers it today — confirm before you travel. The pharmacist decides suitability and can refer you to a GP.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland run their own common-ailment schemes. Do not assume England’s age bands apply outside England.
Is Pharmacy First Earache free on the NHS?
Yes at participating pharmacies, if you fit the service rules. £9.90 per item in England; free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland applies only when an NHS item is dispensed in England and you are not exempt.
Ask the pharmacist whether this service is running today and whether you are eligible. Commissioning and stock change. If a medicine is supplied on an NHS prescription in England, the national item charge applies unless you are exempt — the pharmacy cannot set its own NHS fee.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland do not charge for NHS prescriptions. Their common-ailment schemes are not identical to England’s Pharmacy First.
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.
This directory cannot triage you. If symptoms worsen after a pharmacy visit, go back, contact NHS 111, or use emergency care. Pick My Pharmacy does not provide clinical advice.
How do I find a pharmacy that offers Pharmacy First Earache?
Use the GPhC-registered sample below, Compare, or the directory. Then confirm the service is offered today and match the premises number on pharmacyregulation.org.
Opening hours are only shown when we have them — we never invent a timetable. Ratings appear only with verified reviews; we never invent scores.
If the cards say none yet, the service is still explained here so you know what to ask a local pharmacist. Use Compare with your postcode rather than assuming a nearby branch is listed for this slug.
How do I check the pharmacy is legitimate?
Search the GPhC premises number on pharmacyregulation.org and match the address before you send ID, start a consultation, or pay.
Great Britain community and internet pharmacies must be on that register. Online prescribing services in England should also be CQC-registered. A website that sells prescription-only medicines with no consultation is not a legitimate pharmacy service.
Pick My Pharmacy is an independent directory. We do not supply medicines.
Typical cost
Free on the NHS (where eligible)
0 pharmacies with pharmacy first earache confirmed on their profile
We do not yet have GPhC-registered pharmacies tagged for pharmacy first earache in this snapshot. The education on this page still applies — ask a local pharmacist, or use Compare. A missing card is not proof the service does not exist nearby.
We only list a pharmacy here when the service is confirmed on its profile, so this is not every pharmacy that offers it. To check a pharmacy near you, open your town or city page and phone ahead.
Ratings and rankings are our editorial opinion, based on our publishedmethodology — 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 orReferral 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.
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.
How do I check a pharmacy offering pharmacy first earache is GPhC-registered?▼
Open the listing, copy the premises registration number, and search it on pharmacyregulation.org. Match the name and address before you send ID, start a consultation, or pay. Pick My Pharmacy is a directory — we do not supply pharmacy first earache.
Does Pick My Pharmacy provide pharmacy first earache?▼
No. We compare GPhC-registered pharmacies. The pharmacy you choose supplies the service after its own clinical checks. Paid placements are labelled and never change a rating.
Related guides
Sources
- NHS: Pharmacy First · checked 2026-09-01
- Pick My Pharmacy methodology