Infected Insect Bites (Pharmacy First)
Infected insect bites can be assessed and treated free under NHS Pharmacy First at participating pharmacies in England, for anyone aged 1 and over.
Under NHS Pharmacy First, anyone aged 1 and over with an infected insect bite or sting — increasing redness, heat, swelling, pain, or pus around the bite — can be assessed and treated free at participating pharmacies across England, with no GP appointment needed. Most bites just need self-care: a cold compress, an oral antihistamine for itching, and resisting the urge to scratch, which is what usually introduces infection. Where the clinical pathway shows infection has taken hold, the pharmacist can supply certain prescription-only medicines, such as the antibiotic flucloxacillin, 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. Dial 999 for any sign of a severe allergic reaction — facial or tongue swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing. See a GP for redness that keeps spreading, fever, a red line tracking up a limb, or a bullseye-shaped rash after a tick bite, which needs checking for Lyme disease. Find participating pharmacies via /pharmacies/locations/; our Pharmacy First hub has the full scheme.
Typical cost
Free on the NHS
0 pharmacies offering pharmacy first insect bites
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if an insect bite is infected?▼
Normal bites are itchy and mildly swollen for a day or two. Signs of infection include redness that keeps spreading, increasing pain or heat, pus, swollen glands, or feeling feverish and unwell. That's the point to use Pharmacy First — the pharmacist can assess and, where the pathway criteria are met, supply antibiotics.
Can a pharmacist give antibiotics for an infected bite?▼
Yes — under Pharmacy First in England, pharmacists can supply antibiotics such as flucloxacillin for an infected insect bite in anyone aged 1 and over where the clinical criteria are met, without a GP appointment. If your case falls outside the pathway, you'll be referred on.
What's the best first aid for insect bites and stings?▼
Remove any sting by scraping sideways with a fingernail or card, wash the area, and apply a cold compress. An oral antihistamine helps itching, and a mild hydrocortisone cream or crotamiton can calm inflammation — the pharmacist can advise what's suitable. Avoid scratching: broken skin is how infection gets in.
When is an insect bite an emergency?▼
Dial 999 immediately for signs of anaphylaxis: swelling of the lips, face, or tongue, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness, or collapse. See a GP promptly for a spreading area of redness, red lines tracking up a limb, fever, or a bullseye rash after a tick bite (possible Lyme disease).
Is Pharmacy First treatment for infected bites free?▼
The consultation is free on the NHS. In England the standard £9.90 prescription charge applies to any supplied medicine unless you're exempt; prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which run their own pharmacy schemes.