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Community Pharmacy

Last Updated: Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Community Pharmacy: Your Local Healthcare Experts

Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals who can help you with a range of minor health concerns. They are experts in medicines and can offer clinical advice as well as over-the-counter treatments for everyday ailments, saving you time and making healthcare more accessible.

How Can Your Pharmacist Help?
Your local pharmacist can provide advice and treatments for minor illnesses, including:

  • Coughs, colds, and sore throats
  • Tummy troubles, such as indigestion and diarrhoea
  • Aches and pains, including headaches and sprains
  • Allergies, hay fever, and rashes
  • Eye infections, like conjunctivitis

There’s no need to book an appointment—just visit your nearest pharmacy for quick, professional help.

You can find your nearest pharmacy via Find a Pharmacy - NHS

Care at the Chemist

Care at the Chemist is a convenient service that allows you to manage minor illnesses at your local community pharmacy, reducing the need to visit your GP or A&E.

Why Choose Care at the Chemist?

  • Professional Advice: Pharmacists offer expert guidance and over-the-counter treatments for minor conditions.
  • Fast and Accessible: Pharmacies are easy to access and often have shorter waiting times compared to GP or urgent care settings.
  • Support for Self-Care: This service empowers you to take charge of your health with the help of professional advice.
  • Convenient Locations: Choose from participating pharmacies across Sefton for support close to home.

Who Can Use the Service?
Patients registered with a GP in the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB (Sefton) can use the Care at the Chemist service.

How It Works:

  1. Register: Sign up at a participating Sefton pharmacy. The pharmacy team will confirm your eligibility for the service.
  2. Consultation: Speak to the pharmacist about your symptoms. They will assess your condition, provide advice, and recommend suitable over-the-counter treatments from an approved list.
  3. Get Treated: Receive the right treatment for your condition quickly and conveniently.

Conditions Covered:
Care at the Chemist can help with minor ailments such as:

  • Coughs, colds, and sore throats
  • Fever and headaches
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Thrush
  • Allergies and hay fever

For a full list of conditions covered by the service, visit the Care at the Chemist page on the Sefton Directory.

Important to Know:

  • Patients can choose to decline this service and seek traditional medical care if preferred.
  • For urgent or severe symptoms, pharmacists will direct you to your GP, A&E, or another appropriate service.