Can’t See Your GP? How Pharmacy First Can Save You Time

Growing demand in Mitcham

Local GP practices handle more appointments than ever yet diaries fill fast. The situation is visible across Mitcham and neighbouring communities. People from Thornton Heath to Sutton often face waits of several days for routine issues.

An NHS estimate suggests that redirecting common conditions to pharmacies could remove millions of GP appointments each year.

What is Pharmacy First

Pharmacy First is a national NHS service that began on 31 January 2024. It lets trained pharmacists diagnose specific minor illnesses and provide NHS medicines without any GP visit.

The scheme covers seven everyday conditions.

• Sore throat
• Sinusitis
• Earache in children aged 1 to 17
• Infected insect bite
• Shingles
• Urinary tract infection in women aged 16 to 64
• Impetigo

Age ranges set by NHS clinical protocols make sure each patient sees the right clinician at the right stage.

How Manor Chemist helps

Manor Chemist sits on London Road at the heart of Mitcham. We serve families from Croydon in the south to Streatham in the north. Trams, buses and local roads bring residents directly to our door.

No appointment is needed. Walk in, share your symptoms and a pharmacist will invite you to a private consultation room. The discussion covers history, red flag symptoms and home treatments tried. Most visits last ten minutes.

If the condition matches Pharmacy First criteria the pharmacist can issue the NHS medicine there and then. You leave with treatment in hand and digital notes sent to your GP record for continuity of care.

Real time savings

A family reporting a sore throat often waits a week for a GP slot. At Manor Chemist the same assessment happens the same day. Parents can secure care for a child’s earache after school. Workers collect sinusitis antibiotics at lunch.

That speed helps the NHS as well. More than ten thousand pharmacies already provide the service which lightens pressure on surgeries and phone lines.

Safety built in

Pharmacists follow national patient group directions. They can escalate to NHS 111 or a GP if your symptoms need further tests. All records go to your GP automatically so nothing is lost.

Who should use it

Mitcham residents with new symptoms inside the approved list. Examples include:

• Painful swallowing for two days
• Sinus pressure after a cold
• Itchy red insect bite spreading in size
• New rash typical of shingles pattern
• Burning when passing urine if you are a woman 16 to 64
• Yellow crusty patches of impetigo on exposed skin

If you are outside the age ranges or have complex history the pharmacist will signpost the right service.

Costs

Pharmacy First sits inside normal NHS charging rules. Prescriptions are free for children and eligible adults. Standard fees apply for others. Advice remains free for all.

Hours that suit you

Manor Chemist opens early and closes after most GP sites. Saturday service supports those working weekdays. Check our website for current times.

Your next steps

Bring photo identity if you have it, plus any regular medicines. Come alone or with a carer. Expect to answer questions about allergies and recent treatments.

Still unsure Speak to our team by phone first. They will confirm whether Pharmacy First is right for you.

Condition spotlight

Sore throat

Most are viral but a small number need antibiotics. Pharmacists use a recognised clinical scoring tool before supplying penicillin.

Sinusitis

Symptoms lasting more than ten days can improve faster with NHS nasal sprays or oral medicine supplied under the pathway.

Earache in children

Parents often attend A and E for reassurance. Pharmacy First reduces that need with otoscope checks and clear safety netting advice.

Insect bite

Summer brings midges along the Wandle Trail. Infection is spotted early and oral antibiotics started promptly.

Shingles

Speed matters because antiviral tablets work best inside seventy two hours of rash onset.

Urinary tract infection

Women can avoid weekend discomfort by starting antibiotics on a Saturday morning instead of waiting until Monday.

Impetigo

Advice on hygiene prevents spread among school classmates and keeps children learning.

Access for every resident

The pharmacy entrance has level flooring suitable for wheelchairs and prams. Nearby bus routes 118 and 264 stop within one minute of the door. Free parking for fifteen minutes is available on adjacent side roads.

Interpreting is available by phone for over one hundred languages. Staff include trained sign language champions.

Data security and follow up

Consultations are recorded on secure NHS systems. Your GP can view the outcome at the next visit. If symptoms linger you can return for review or be referred onward.

Stay informed

Search online for NHS Pharmacy First to see the full national guidance. Follow Manor Chemist on social media for service hours and any holiday updates.

Final thought

Pharmacy First offers fast safe care for everyday conditions. Mitcham residents can walk into Manor Chemist today and leave treated within minutes.