HSC
Sep 6, 2026
Pharmacy First lets you get free NHS treatment for everyday conditions at the pharmacy, without a GP appointment. Here's what it covers in Northern Ireland.
The HSC's published Pharmacy First service currently has five parts:
Everyday health conditions, available at all community pharmacies: acne, athlete's foot, diarrhoea, earwax, groin infection, haemorrhoids, head lice, mouth ulcers, oral thrush, scabies, threadworms, vaginal thrush, and verrucae.
Emergency hormonal contraception, free for people aged 13 and over.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) assessment and free treatment, for women aged 16 to 64.
Sore throat testing and free symptom relief treatment, for people aged 5 and over.
Shingles treatment, currently offered as a pilot at 50 participating pharmacies, for adults aged 18 and over.
All Pharmacy First treatment is provided free of charge to eligible patients. Not every pharmacy offers every part of the service though, so it's always worth checking with your nearest branch which services are available there.
You'll usually be seen in a private consultation area rather than at the open counter. The pharmacist will ask about your symptoms, check whether Pharmacy First is the right route for your specific situation, and either treat you there and then or explain what to do next. If your symptoms suggest something Pharmacy First isn't designed to cover, or something more serious, the pharmacist will tell you and point you toward a GP or, if needed, urgent or emergency care instead.
Pharmacy First is designed to make it quicker and easier to get treatment for common, everyday conditions, while freeing up GP appointments for things that genuinely need a doctor. Pharmacists are trained healthcare professionals, and for the conditions on this list, a pharmacy consultation is often just as appropriate as a GP visit, without the wait.
Get in touch with your nearest 123 Chem branch to ask which Pharmacy First services are available there. See our NHS Services & Minor Ailments page for more on everyday conditions we can help with, and our Female Health page for emergency contraception specifically.
This article is general information, not medical advice, and describes the Pharmacy First service as published by HSC Northern Ireland. Exact services and participation can vary by pharmacy and may change over time.
