Local Services Appointments

What does the Pharmacy First service involve?

It involves pharmacists providing advice & NHS-funded treatment where appropriate, for seven common conditions:

1. Sinusitis

2. Sore throat

3. Ear infection in children aged 1-17

4. Infected insect bite

5. Impetigo

6. Shingles

7. Urinary tract infection in women.

This free service is funded by NHS England

For further information on each of the above please see below

What is an Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common infections that affect the bladder, the kidneys and the tubes connected to them. Anyone can get them, but they’re particularly common in women. UTIs can be painful and uncomfortable, but usually pass within a few days and can be treated with antibiotics.

What are the symptoms of a UTI (Urinary Tract Infections)?

Infections of the bladder or urethra (the tube that carries urine out of your body) are known as lower UTIs.

UTI symptoms may include:

• Needing to pass urine more often Needing to pass urine at night Burning pain or discomfort when urinating
• Sudden urges to pass urine Feeling as though you haven’t emptied your bladder fully
• Urine that is cloudy, foul-smelling or contains blood Pain low down in your tummy
• Feeling unwell, achy and tired

How can Numark Pharmacy help?

Our Pharmacists are able to help women aged from 16 to 64 years with symptoms of a lower UTI. They will ask you about your medical history and other symptoms to exclude more serious conditions that need urgent referral to your GP or other sources of help.

If your symptoms are mild, pain relief and products you can buy over the counter will be recommended.

If your UTI symptoms are moderate to severe and treatment with antibiotics is considered to be needed, our Pharmacists can provide this.

Do I need to bring anything with me to the Pharmacy?

No we can provide a urine sample bottle for you to give us a sample to test in the pharmacy if the pharmacist deems it is needed.

What if I am aged under 16 or over 64 or I am male?

If you are outside the age range or gender we are unable to offer the service, although our Pharmacists or members of the Pharmacy Team can give self-care advice or refer you to your GP as appropriate.

What is Acute Sore Throat? Sore throats are very common and usually, nothing to worry about. They generally get better within a week without antibiotics. Sore throats can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Most sore throats are caused by minor illnesses, such as colds, and can be treated at home.

What are the symptoms of an Acute Sore Throat? Signs of Acute Sore Throat may include: Discomfort when swallowing Swollen glands in your neck Feeling the need to clear your throat High temperature above 38oC (fever) Presence of pus in your throat Severely inflamed tonsils.

What can I do to relieve these symptoms? You can help relieve your symptoms by: Taking over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen Drinking plenty of cool or warm (not very hot) drinks Sucking medicated lozenges, hard sweets, ice cubes or ice lollies Avoid smoking and smoky places Gargling with warm, salty water (children should not try this).

When should I seek help? If your symptoms are getting worse you may benefit from a course of antibiotics. If you or your child’s symptoms are severe or getting worse quickly, you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, you have started drooling or are making a high-pitched sound as you breathe, you should seek urgent medical attention.

How can Numark Pharmacy help? Our Pharmacists can help people aged five and over. They will ask you about your medical history and other symptoms to exclude other conditions or complications that need urgent referral to your GP or other sources of help. They will look down your throat, using a light and a tongue depressor, and may feel your neck to find out if your glands are swollen. They may recommend products you can buy over the counter, as above.

If your symptoms suggest further treatment is needed our Pharmacists can supply you with a course of antibiotics, if appropriate.

What if my child is under five years of age? If your child is younger than five we cannot offer this service to them. Our Pharmacists, or members of the Pharmacy Team, can give self-care advice or refer your child to your GP as appropriate.

What is Sinusitis? Sinuses are small air-filled cavities behind your forehead and cheekbones. Mucus produced by your sinuses usually drained into your nose through small channels. Sinusitis is a common condition in which the lining of the sinuses becomes inflamed, blocking the channels and preventing mucus draining away. It is usually caused by a viral infection and often improves within two or three weeks.

What are the symptoms of Sinusitis? Sinusitis usually occurs after an upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold. If you have a persistent cold and show the symptoms below, you may have sinusitis. Symptoms of sinusitis include: Blocked nose Green or yellow discharge from your nose Pain and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead A high temperature (fever) of 38oC or more Sinus headache Toothache Reduced sense of smell Bad breath. Children with sinusitis may breathe through their mouth, be irritable and have difficulty feeding. Their speech may also sound nasal (as though they have a stuffy cold). Sinusitis often clears up within a few weeks (acute sinusitis) without treatment. Occasionally symptoms can last three months or more (chronic sinusitis).

What can I do to relieve these symptoms? You can help relieve your symptoms by: Taking over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen Using nasal decongestants – but for no more than a week, as this might make things worse Holding warm packs to your face Cleaning the inside of your nose with a saline solution.

When should I seek help? If your symptoms aren’t improving after ten days or are getting worse, you may benefit from a course of antibiotics or using a corticosteroid spray.

How can Numark Pharmacy help? Our Pharmacists can help people aged 12 and over. They will ask you about your medical history and other symptoms to exclude other conditions or complications that need urgent referral to your GP or other sources of help. They may recommend pain relief and products you can buy over the counter, as above. If your symptoms suggest further treatment is needed our Pharmacists can supply you with a corticosteroid nasal spray. If appropriate, our Pharmacists can provide a course of antibiotics.

What if I am aged under 12? If you are younger than 12 years of age we are unable to offer this service to you. Our Pharmacists, or members of the Pharmacy Team, can give self-care advice or refer you to your GP as appropriate.

What is Shingles? Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection of a nerve and the skin around it. It’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox, you usually develop antibodies to the infection so become less likely to catch it again. But the virus that causes chickenpox stays inactive in your body’s nerve tissues. This can come back later in life as shingles. It’s possible to catch chickenpox from someone with shingles, but not the other way around. You are contagious until the last blister has dried and scabbed over.

What are the symptoms of Shingles? The main symptom of shingles is pain, followed by a rash that develops into itchy blisters. The Shingles rash generally appears on one side of your body in an area of skin related to the affected nerve. A few days after appearing, the blisters become yellowish in colour, flatten and dry out before becoming scabs. The pain caused by shingles is a localised band of pain. It may be a constant, burning or dull pain. Its intensity can vary from mild to severe and may feel like sharp stabbing pains. Sometimes other symptoms begin before the painful rash, including: A headache Burning, tingling, itchiness or numbness of the skin in the affected area A high temperature (fever) Feeling generally unwell

When should I seek help? There is no cure for shingles, but there are treatments that can ease your symptoms. Shingles symptoms usually get better in two to four weeks, but early treatment may reduce the severity and reduce complications.

How can Numark Pharmacy help? Our Pharmacists can help people aged 18 and over. They will ask you about your medical history and other symptoms to exclude other conditions or complications that need urgent referral to your GP or other sources of help. They may recommend pain relief and products you can buy over the counter. If you visit the pharmacy within 72 hours of your rash appearing, treatment with antiviral tablets may be considered to be needed. Our Pharmacists can provide this.

What if I am aged under 18? If you are outside the age range we are unable to offer the service, although our Pharmacists, or members of the Pharmacy Team, can give self-care advice or refer you to your GP as appropriate.

What are Infected Insect Bites? Insect bites or stings are not usually serious and get better in a few days. They may be itchy and painful and can be relieved with antihistamine tablets or creams you can buy over the counter. Sometimes they can cause a serious allergic reaction or become infected.

What are the symptoms of Infected Insect Bites? Signs that suggest an insect bite has become infected include: Pain or tenderness in the affected area Skin around the bite area is hot to touch Discharge from the bite or sting area Redness or swelling of the skin that is spreading.

What can I do to relieve these symptoms? You can help relieve your symptoms by: Taking an antihistamine to reduce the allergic reaction Taking over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen Applying hydrocortisone cream, if appropriate.

When should I seek help? If your symptoms aren’t improving after 48 hours or are getting worse, your skin feels hot to touch and the redness or swelling is spreading you may benefit from a course of antibiotics.

How can Numark Pharmacy help? Our Pharmacists can help people aged one and over. They will ask you about your medical history and other symptoms to exclude other conditions or complications that need urgent referral to your GP or other sources of help. They may recommend products you can buy over the counter, as above. If your symptoms suggest further treatment is needed our Pharmacists can supply you with a course of antibiotics, if appropriate.

What if my child is under one year of age? If your child is younger than one year old we are unable to offer this service to them. Our Pharmacists, or members of the Pharmacy Team, can give self-care advice or refer your child to your GP as appropriate.

What is Impetigo? Impetigo is a highly contagious skin condition that causes blisters and sores. It occurs when the skin becomes infected with bacteria. It is a very common skin infection in young children but can affect people of all ages. It isn’t usually serious and generally improves within a week of treatment or within a few weeks if left untreated. The bacteria can be spread easily through close contact with an infected person through direct contact or by sharing towels and flannels. There are no symptoms until four to ten days after exposure to the bacteria, so it is often spread to others unintentionally. The most common type of impetigo is non-bullous.

What are the symptoms of Non-bullous Impetigo? Non-bullous impetigo begins with red sores, which are usually around the mouth and nose. Other areas of the face and limbs can also be affected. The sores soon burst, leaving thick, golden crusts that are typically 2cm across. The crusts are sometimes likened to looking like cornflakes stuck to the skin. The crusts dry, leaving a red mark that usually fades without scarring. It can take between a few days and a few weeks for the redness to fade. The sores are not painful but may be itchy. Care should be taken not to touch or scratch the sores as this can spread the infection to other parts of the body or to other people. In more severe cases there may be a high temperature or swollen glands.

When should I seek help? Impetigo usually gets better in around two to three weeks without treatment. Treatment is often recommended as it can reduce the length of the illness to a week to 10 days and lowers the risk of the infection spreading to others.

How can I prevent the spread of impetigo? It is important to take precautions to reduce the risk of impetigo spreading to other people, or other parts of the body, during treatment. You are no longer contagious after 48 hours of treatment or once your sores have dried and healed. You should stay away from work, school or nursery until this point. Other precautions you should take include: Washing hands regularly, especially after touching infected skin Avoiding sharing flannels, towels and bed linen with anyone with impetigo and wash them at high a temperature after use Avoiding touching or scratching sores Avoiding contact with newborn babies, preparing food, playing contact sports or going to the gym Washing/wiping toys

How can Numark Pharmacy help? Our Pharmacists can help people aged one year and over. They will ask you about your medical history and other symptoms to exclude other conditions or complications that need urgent referral to your GP or other sources of help. Our Pharmacist will consider if an antibiotic cream or antibiotics are needed. These can be provided by our Pharmacists without the need for a prescription from your doctor. If you think the infection has spread to other people, recommend they see a Pharmacist promptly too.

Are there any patients Numark Pharmacists cannot give treatment to? Our Pharmacists are not able to treat infants under the age of one or patients with bullous impetigo. There may also be other factors in your medical history that mean our Pharmacists cannot issue treatment. If this applies to you or your child, our Pharmacist will refer you to your GP or another source of help and treatment.

What is Acute Otitis Media (Earache)? Acute Otitis Media is an infection of the middle ear that causes inflammation (redness and swelling) and a build-up of fluid behind the eardrum. Anyone can develop a middle ear infection but infants between six and 15 months old are most commonly affected, with one in four children having at least one middle ear infection by the time they are ten years old. Most ear infections clear up within three to five days without treatment. Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used if you or your child are in pain or have a high temperature.

What are the symptoms of Earache (Acute Otitis Media)? Common symptoms of middle ear infections are: Earache High temperature (fever) Lack of energy Vomiting Slight hearing loss Younger children are less able to communicate what is wrong with them. Signs that could suggest an ear infection include: Pulling, tugging or rubbing their ear Irritability, poor feeding or restlessness at night Coughing or a runny nose Raised temperature Unresponsive to quiet sounds Loss of balance.

Antibiotics aren’t usually needed unless your child’s symptoms persist or are particularly severe.

When should I seek help? In most cases, Acute Otitis Media will resolve in a few days. You should seek further assistance if you or your child have: Symptoms that are not improving after two or three days A lot of pain Pus or fluid coming from the ear

How can Numark Pharmacy help? Our Pharmacists can help children aged from one to 17 years with moderate to severe earache symptoms that are not eased by pain relief. They will use an otoscope to look into your child’s ears for signs of infection, such as bulging of the tympanic membrane. They will ask you about your child’s medical history and other symptoms to exclude more serious conditions that need urgent referral to your GP or other sources of help. If treatment with ear drops or antibiotics is considered to be needed, our Pharmacists can provide this.