for all your healthcare needs
Chard Pharmacy First
Our pharmacies can provide NHS advice and support to people to help them manage minor ailments, including supplying medicines free of charge where needed to patients or their children (under 16 years) who do not pay for their prescriptions who are registered with a local GP.
​​
Why should I see a pharmacist first?
Pharmacists are experts in medicines and they can use their clinical expertise, their practical knowledge and their experience to advise patients on the best medicines to use to treat common ailments.​
​
By consulting a pharmacist first, you can free up valuable GP time to enable them to treat more patients with complex health needs. A pharmacist will always be able to advise you if they think you need to see a doctor.
NHS Pharmacy First - Urinary Tract Infection
UTI stands for Urinary Tract Infection. It's an infection that can occur in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. UTIs are typically caused by bacteria, such as E. coli, entering the urinary tract and multiplying. Symptoms can include a frequent need to urinate, pain or burning during urination, cloudy or bloody urine, and discomfort in the pelvic area. UTIs are usually treated with antibiotics. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) can vary depending on which part of the urinary tract is affected, but common symptoms include: Strong, persistent urge to urinate Burning sensation during urination Passing frequent, small amounts of urine Cloudy or bloody urine Strong-smelling urine Pelvic pain, especially in women Rectal pain, especially in men Fatigue Fever or chills (indicating a more severe infection) It's important to note that not everyone with a UTI will experience all of these symptoms, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. If you suspect you have a UTI, it's essential to see a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. Untreated UTIs can lead to more serious complications, such as kidney infections.​
NHS Pharmacy First - Middle Ear Infection
Otitis media denotes an infection of the middle ear, characterized by inflammation and fluid accumulation behind the eardrum. Although anyone can contract it, it primarily affects young children. In most cases, medical intervention isn't necessary as these infections often resolve within 3 to 5 days. Key Symptoms of Otitis Media: • Earache • Fever • Nausea • Fatigue • Slight hearing impairment due to fluid buildup in the middle ear • In some instances, a perforated eardrum may develop, leading to pus discharge and subsequent resolution of earache caused by fluid pressure. Indications in Young Children: • Ear rubbing or pulling • Reduced responsiveness to certain sounds • Irritability or restlessness • Decreased appetite • Balance disturbances
NHS Pharmacy First - Shingles
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Shingles can occur anywhere on your body. It typically looks like a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right side of your torso. Shingles are caused by the “varicella-zoster virus” — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you've had chickenpox, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles. Shingles are not life-threatening. But it can be very painful. Shingles symptoms usually affect only a small section on one side of your body. These symptoms may include: • Pain, burning or tingling • Sensitivity to touch • A red rash that begins a few days after the pain • Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over • Itching Some people also experience: • Fever • Headache • Sensitivity to light • Fatigue
NHS Pharmacy First - Infected Insect Bite
Infected insect bites may require a course of antibiotics. Bug bites can be annoying, but most are harmless, and you’ll just have a few days of itching. But some bug bites do need treatment, including: • bites from a poisonous insect • bites that cause a serious condition like Lyme disease • bites or stings from an insect to which you’re allergic How to tell if an insect bite is infected: Most insect bites will be itchy and red for a few days. But if one gets infected, you might also have: • a wide area of redness around the bite • swelling around the bite • pus • increasing pain • fever • feeling of warmth around the bite • a long red line extending out from the bite • sores or abscesses on or around the bite • swollen glands (lymph nodes) Seek urgent medical treatment if you develop red skin streaks, the bite area spreads, your pain worsens, or you develop symptoms of sepsis.
NHS Pharmacy First - Impetigo
Impetigo presents as a highly contagious skin infection, typically non-serious, often resolving within 7 to 10 days with treatment. While it can affect anyone, it's particularly common in young children. Identifying Impetigo: • Initially, red sores or blisters appear, though they might be less discernible in darker skin tones. • These sores swiftly rupture, leaving behind crusty, golden-brown patches. • These patches may resemble adhered cornflakes, expand in size, spread to other areas of the body, induce itching, and occasionally cause discomfort.
NHS Pharmacy First - Acute Sore Throat
A sore throat presents as discomfort, scratchiness, or irritation in the throat, often intensifying during swallowing. The primary culprit behind this condition, known as pharyngitis, is typically viral infections like the common cold or influenza. Viral-induced sore throats typically subside without medical intervention. However, strep throat, an uncommon variety caused by a bacterial infection (streptococcus), requires antibiotic treatment.
NHS Pharmacy First - Acute Sinusitis
Acute sinusitis is an inflammation and swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses. Sinuses are air-filled cavities in the skull, located behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes. When these cavities become inflamed due to infection, allergic reaction, or irritants, it can cause symptoms such as facial pain, pressure, nasal congestion, discharge, cough, headache, fatigue, and fever. Acute sinusitis typically lasts less than four weeks and can be caused by various factors, including viral infections (such as the common cold), bacterial infections, fungal infections, allergies, or structural abnormalities in the nasal passages. Treatment may involve medications to relieve symptoms and address the underlying cause, such as antibiotics for bacterial infections or decongestants for nasal congestion.