Pharmacy assistant

Helpful for service navigation and common pharmacy questions. For urgent or severe symptoms, use NHS 111, urgent care, or emergency services.

Ask about Goshen Pharmacy services, booking, prescriptions, or where to find support. This assistant cannot diagnose or replace urgent care.

NHS service

Pharmacy first

Speak to a pharmacist for assessment, advice, and treatment where clinically appropriate for earache (1-17 years), impetigo (1 year plus), infected insect bites (1 year plus), sinusitis (12 years plus), sore throat (5 years plus), shingles (18 years plus), and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (16-64 years).

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Service summary

Clear service details before you book.

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Category: NHS service
Service price: NHS funded
Booking price: No online payment
Typical appointment: 10 to 20 minutes

About this service

What Pharmacy first is for

Pharmacy first helps eligible patients get assessment and treatment for selected common conditions without waiting for a routine GP appointment.

At Goshen Pharmacy, a pharmacist will assess your symptoms, ask clinical safety questions, and decide whether advice, pharmacy treatment, referral, or urgent care is most appropriate.

What this service includes

Assessment for seven common conditions

Advice and treatment where appropriate

Referral when needed

Advantages of this service

Faster access to clinical advice for common conditions.

Treatment can be supplied where clinically appropriate and within NHS criteria.

The pharmacist can refer you to the right service if symptoms suggest another route is safer.

The consultation helps reduce avoidable GP pressure while keeping care clinically structured.

Why patients use it

Local pharmacy care with practical next steps.

Goshen Pharmacy storefront and interior view

Consultation flow

A structured conversation before any treatment decision.

What to expect

The pharmacist will check your age, symptoms, duration, medical history, allergies, and medicines.

They will look for red flag symptoms that may need urgent medical assessment.

If Pharmacy first is suitable, the pharmacist will explain the recommended care plan and how to use any treatment safely.

Suitable for

Earache (1-17 years)Impetigo (1 year plus)Infected insect bites (1 year plus)Sinusitis (12 years plus)Sore throat (5 years plus)Shingles (18 years plus)Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (16-64 years)

Pharmacy medicines and healthcare supplies

Before you visit

Bring the details that help the team assess you safely.

Before your appointment

Know when symptoms started and whether they are improving, staying the same, or worsening.
Bring details of current medicines, allergies, pregnancy status where relevant, and any recent antibiotics or treatments.
For children, bring a parent or guardian who can answer clinical questions and consent to care.

Pharmacist working at a dispensary counter

After your appointment

Clear advice before you leave the pharmacy.

After the service

Follow the pharmacist's treatment and self-care advice carefully.
Seek further help if symptoms worsen, do not improve as expected, or if urgent warning signs appear.
The pharmacy team will tell you whether GP follow-up or another service is needed.

Important information

Pharmacy first covers: Earache for children aged 1 to 17 years; Impetigo for patients aged 1 year plus; Infected insect bites for patients aged 1 year plus; Sinusitis for patients aged 12 years plus; Sore throat for patients aged 5 years plus; Shingles for adults aged 18 years plus; Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women aged 16 to 64 years.

The service is NHS funded for eligible patients and eligible conditions.

For severe pain, severe illness, breathing difficulty, confusion, symptoms in very young children, pregnancy concerns, or rapidly worsening symptoms, use NHS 111, urgent care, or 999 as appropriate.

Structured module

Use the guided Pharmacy First questionnaire before booking.

Start symptom check