26 May 2023
Did you know a Pharmacist can assess you if you are suffering with a minor illness? The NHS have introduced a service called the Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS). If you contact the surgery and are suffering with a minor illness and it is appropriate you may be offered a referral to a Pharmacy of your choice, rather than appointment at your GP Practice.
Pharmacists are highly skilled healthcare professionals who have trained for at least 5 years.
If the pharmacist reviews your symptoms and thinks you need to see another healthcare professional (eg GP, dentist, optician), they will help to arrange this.
The pharmacist can provide advice and reassurance on how to manage your condition, as many minor illnesses get better on their own. If the pharmacist thinks you need treatment to help with your symptoms, they may recommend an over-the-counter medicine.
If you are seeing them because you have run out of your usual medicine, they can help arrange a new supply.
The pharmacist will record the outcome of your consultation and send it to your GP to ensure your GP record is updated, including if any medicines are supplied.