Impetigo Treatment (Pharmacy First)
Anyone aged 1 and over with impetigo can be assessed and treated free under NHS Pharmacy First at participating pharmacies in England.
Under NHS Pharmacy First, anyone aged 1 and over with impetigo — the contagious bacterial skin infection that causes red sores and honey-coloured crusts, usually around the nose and mouth — can be assessed and treated free at participating pharmacies across England, without a GP appointment. Following the national clinical pathway, the pharmacist can supply treatment where appropriate: a topical cream such as hydrogen peroxide 1% or fusidic acid for localised patches, or oral antibiotics where the infection is more widespread — supplied without you seeing a GP first. The consultation is free; in England the standard prescription charge of £9.90 applies to any supplied medicine unless you're exempt (children under 16 are exempt). Because impetigo spreads easily, UKHSA advice is to keep children off school or nursery until the patches have crusted or healed, or for 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment, and to wash hands, towels, and bedding frequently at home. Babies under 1, and anyone with widespread, recurring, or worsening infection, should see a GP. Find participating pharmacies via /pharmacies/locations/; our Pharmacy First hub explains the scheme.
What is Pharmacy First Impetigo?
Anyone aged 1 and over with impetigo can be assessed and treated free under NHS Pharmacy First at participating pharmacies in England.
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 Impetigo 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 see a GP about impetigo instead?
See a GP for babies under 1, if the infection is widespread or keeps coming back, if it isn't improving after a full course of treatment, or if the person affected becomes feverish or generally unwell. Impetigo on top of eczema may also need a GP's input to manage both.
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 long should my child stay off school with impetigo?
UKHSA guidance is to keep children off school or nursery until the sores have crusted or healed, or for 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment — whichever comes first. Good hand hygiene and not sharing towels, flannels, or bedding helps stop it spreading at home.
Policies differ by branch and by day. Confirm with the pharmacy you intend to visit rather than treating this page as a booking confirmation.
How do I find a pharmacy that offers Pharmacy First Impetigo?
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 impetigo confirmed on their profile
We do not yet have GPhC-registered pharmacies tagged for pharmacy first impetigo 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 impetigo?▼
Yes — under Pharmacy First in England, pharmacists assess impetigo in anyone aged 1 and over and can supply treatment where appropriate: a topical cream for localised patches, or oral antibiotics where the infection is more widespread. It's free on the NHS and needs no GP appointment.
How long should my child stay off school with impetigo?▼
UKHSA guidance is to keep children off school or nursery until the sores have crusted or healed, or for 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment — whichever comes first. Good hand hygiene and not sharing towels, flannels, or bedding helps stop it spreading at home.
What does impetigo look like?▼
Red sores or blisters, usually starting around the nose and mouth, that burst and leave distinctive golden, honey-coloured crusts. A less common form causes larger fluid-filled blisters. If you're not sure what you're looking at, the pharmacist can assess it — that's exactly what the service is for.
When should I see a GP about impetigo instead?▼
See a GP for babies under 1, if the infection is widespread or keeps coming back, if it isn't improving after a full course of treatment, or if the person affected becomes feverish or generally unwell. Impetigo on top of eczema may also need a GP's input to manage both.
Is Pharmacy First impetigo treatment free?▼
The consultation is free on the NHS. In England the standard £9.90 prescription charge applies to a supplied medicine unless you're exempt — under-16s and many adults pay nothing. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland run their own free pharmacy schemes.
How do I check a pharmacy offering pharmacy first impetigo 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 impetigo.
Does Pick My Pharmacy provide pharmacy first impetigo?▼
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