If you visit a pharmacy and have a common ailment you can ask the pharmacist for advice. The pharmacist may ask if you wish to register for the service. Registering means the pharmacist may supply you with the medicine you need free of charge.

What does the service offer?

You will receive advice and free treatment from your community pharmacist for common minor illnesses and ailments such as:

• indigestion • constipation • diarrhoea • piles • hay fever • head lice • teething • nappy rash • colic • chicken pox • threadworms • sore throat • athlete’s foot • eye infections • mouth ulcers • cold sores • acne • dry eyes • dermatitis • verruca • back pain • vaginal thrush • oral thrush • scabies • ringworm • interigo • ingrowing toenails

You may need to show the pharmacist some form of identification before you can use the service but this will depend on whether you are known to the pharmacist.

The pharmacist will check your details against the NHS Wales Welsh Demographic Service to confirm that you are registered with a GP Practice in Wales.

You don’t have to make an appointment. You can go along at a time that suits you.

Your consultation will always be with a qualified pharmacist and will take place in a confidential area within the pharmacy.

If your pharmacist agrees that you need a medicine or product to treat your symptoms they may give it to you free of charge.

If you do not wish to register with the service the pharmacist will provide you with advice but will not be able to supply any free medicine. Who is the service for? You can use the service if you live in Wales and are registered with a GP Practice. You will still have to go to your GP if:

• Your pharmacist suggests that you should, or
• You need a medicine that you can only get on prescription from your GP

Can I still go to my GP?

You can still make an appointment with your GP if you feel this is more suitable.

Can I still go to other pharmacies?

You can use other pharmacies to buy medicines or to pick up your prescriptions but remember, you can only use the service at the community pharmacy you are registered at and it is safer if only one pharmacy has a record of all the medicines you are taking so that they can be sure that if your health changes your medicines are still suitable for you