Pharmacy (Common Ailments Service)
What is the Common Ailments Service?
Local pharmacies offer free advice and treatment for the conditions listed below. Patients suffering with other conditions will not be able to access the Common Ailments Service. They may however receive advice from the pharmacist and the option to buy medicines over the counter. If a pharmacist feels that the patient needs to be seen by the GP they will refer appropriately. There are restrictions in place for how often certain conditions can be treated under Choose Pharmacy, the Pharmacist will direct such cases back to the GP accordingly.
Who can use the service?
Patients can self-present at the pharmacy if they are registered with a GP in Wales.
Who can’t use the service?
Exclusions are:
- Patients temporarily residing in Wales but usually registered outside of Wales.
- Care Home residents are excluded from the service.
What we can/ can’t help with:
| Condition | Suitable for Pharmacist | Offer GP Appointment instead |
| Acne | Patients over 12 years | Severe or infected acne |
| Athlete’s Foot | All patients | Patients with poorly controlled diabetes or immunocompromised |
| Backache (acute episode) |
Patients aged 20-50 years | Patients with severe/systemic symptoms/ over 50 years /Chronic episode |
| Chicken Pox | Patients 4 weeks- 14 years | Children who are systemically unwell (e.g. superimposed infection, dehydration) |
| Conjunctivitis (bacterial) | Patients over 2 years | Pregnant/breastfeeding women; Contact lens wearers
Visual disturbance / pain – refer to Community Optometrist |
| Constipation | Patients over 18 years | Rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, co-existing diarrhoea |
| Dry Skin | All patients without sign of infection | Patients who have failed to respond to treatment or have symptoms indicative of infection |
| Dry Eyes | All patients | Refer all to Community Optometrist |
| Haemorrhoids | Patients aged over 18 | Pregnant women, unexplained weight loss, suspected infection, painful lumps, abdominal pain |
| Hay Fever | Patients over 2 years old | Pregnant/breastfeeding women |
| Head Lice | All patients (Comb supplied first instance) | Lotion will only be supplied if patient has wet combed for 14 days |
| Indigestion and reflux | Patients over 18 years | Pain on exertion, taking NSAIDs, Aged >55 with persistent symptoms, shortness of breath, unintentional weight loss |
| Intertrigo (sweat rash, skin fold rash) | All patients | Patients with recurrent symptoms or have symptoms indicative of infection. Immunocompromised patients, uncontrolled diabetes |
| Ringworm | All patients | Children who are systemically unwell or have symptoms of infection |
| Nappy Rash | All patients without sign of infection | Patients with poorly controlled diabetes / immunosuppressed patients |
| Oral Thrush | Patients over 4 weeks | Patients with a severe rash, secondary infection, or those who are systemically unwell |
| Scabies | Patients over 2 years | Patients who are systemically unwell / persistent symptoms/ immunocompromised/ recurrent tonsillitis |
| Sore throat and tonsillitis | All patients | Children who are systemically unwell /diarrhoea |
| Teething | Patients over 3 months | Pregnant / breastfeeding women |
| Threadworms | Patients over 6 months | Patients with poorly controlled diabetes Pregnant/breastfeeding women |
| Vaginal Thrush | Patients aged 16-60 years | Patients with diabetes and patients with multiple lesions / immunocompromised/ large areas affected. |
| Warts and Verrucas | Patients over 2 years |
What to expect
Some consultations may be able to be completed over the telephone or via video link, however others may require a face to face consultation.
To use this service you must register with the pharmacy of your choice. You can register at any pharmacy and can choose to move to another pharmacy at any time if you need to use the service again.
Some consultations may be able to be completed over the telephone or via video link, however others may require a face to face consultation
A consultation will usually take between 5 and 10 minutes. You may need to wait to see the pharmacist at busy times.
Your doctor (GP) will be sent information about the advice and treatment you have received.
How to access the service?
Where possible please telephone your chosen pharmacy before attending in person. Some consultations may be able to be carried out remotely via telephone or video, whereas others may need to be carried out face to face. Where a service is unavailable on a given day the pharmacy team will be able to advise on the nearest accessible pharmacy service for you.
Where can I find more information?
NHS 111 – Help with finding a pharmacy