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Pharmacy Services

Minor Ailments

A quick and convenient way to get advice and treatment on all minor ailments and health complaints.

A quick and convenient way to get advice and treatment on all minor ailments and health complaints.

Don’t let a niggling minor ailment cause you problems

Are you suffering from a minor health problem such as a cough, cold, stomach pains or earache and you would like help, but you don’t want to bother with visiting your doctor or going to A&E?

Our Minor Ailments Service can give you the professional health and advice you need quickly and easily. You will not need to queue for hours at your local A&E. You will save the NHS time and money and there will be less risk of picking up bugs and viruses. It’s the perfect way to save time AND keep your family healthy.

Simply pop into your local Whitworth Pharmacy for FREE on-the-spot advice.

The Minor Ailment Service allows you to get on-the-spot medical advice and learn how you can use self-care, over-the-counter medication or prescription medication to get better faster. 

You will need to register with the service and then the pharmacist can give you the medicine they believe you need without having to see your GP.

A minor ailment is a health complaint that usually does not last long and can be treated with self-care or minimal treatment such as over-the-counter medication or prescription medication.

It does not require any kind of blood tests or other lab work to be done and can be managed by a trusted health professional such as your local Whitworth pharmacist.

This includes:

  • Coughs and colds

  • Seasonal allergies

  • Environmental allergies

  • Aches and pains

  • Head lice

  • Earache

  • Mild skin conditions

  • Minor injuries such as bruises or minor burns

  • Sunburn

  • Constipation and piles

  • Vomiting

  • Digestive problems such as heartburn, indigestion and diarrhoea

  • Threadworms

  • Period pain

  • Thrush

  • Cystitis

  • Conjunctivitis

  • Cold sores and mouth ulcers

  • Warts and verrucas

  • Nappy rash

  • Teething problems

  • There is no need to make an appointment, you can just pop into your local Whitworth pharmacy and ask your pharmacist for advice. 

    You will need to register with the minor ailments service. This involves answering a few questions, providing evidence that you are eligible and then signing a form. 

    You will then be taken to a private consulting room where you can speak to the pharmacist about your health problem. Your pharmacist will ask you further questions to assess your condition such as your symptoms, how long you’ve had these symptoms and any allergies you might have. 

    Using the information, you provided, your pharmacist will give you advice on how you can best manage this health concern and also give you medication if they feel you need it. 

    Should you need further help, your pharmacist will refer you to a support service, doctor, or other medical professional.

    • Can I go to a different pharmacy after I have registered for the Minor Ailments Service? Yes, you can buy medicines and collect prescriptions from any pharmacy. But to use the Minor Ailments Service again, you need to return to the pharmacy you registered in. 

    • Who is eligible for the Minor Ailments Service? Anyone registered with a participating UK GP surgery who is under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education, over 60, valid maternity exemption certificate, medical exemption certificate, or war pension exemption certificate, you get Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, or you are named on, or entitled to, an NHS tax credit exemption certificate or a valid HC2 certificate.

    The minor ailments scheme is only available to selected pharmacies however all pharmacies can advise on minor ailment issues.

Minor ailments such as a persistent cough, headaches and vomiting can all be distressing. Our minor ailment service gives you on the spot advice, counter medication or prescription medication without the need to see a GP. Call us today if you need help.