Pharmacy First

Your Pharmacy First Clinic

We are now a Pharmacy First Clinic in Downpatrick and can give you advice about common ailments and even issue over-the-counter medication for free if needed.

Many patients visit their doctor suffering from “minor ailments”. These are defined as short-term illnesses that are self-limiting, last a short time and the patient will get better in a few days. Colds, sore throats, headaches, diarrhoea, constipation and hay fever are typical minor ailments.

How it works?

If you are exempt from prescription charges then you can access this service which can give you over-the-counter medicines for free rather than you needing to see a GP to receive the medication on prescription.

Upon visiting the pharmacy you will be asked some questions and, if appropriate, supplied with medicines to treat the condition. This is a FREE service. Other advice will be offered as needed. If the pharmacist believes the symptoms are not “minor” you can be referred to the doctor.

The aim of the service is for patients to be treated without having to visit their doctor and take up one of their valuable appointment slots. There are limits to how many times each patient can access the service a year.

We hope that this service will reduce the number of people seeking treatment via a prescription from their GP or out-of-hours (OOH) provider, or via a walk-in centre or accident and emergency.

Patients can register to access the service at the pharmacy and the patient’s GP practice will be notified of any intervention via a secure email.

Conditions include:

Acute cough
Acute fever
Acute pain/earache/headache/temperature
Athlete’s foot Bites and stings
Cold sores Colds/flu/congestion
Constipation
Cystitis
Diarrhoea
Dry skin (simple eczema)
Dermatitis/allergic-type rashes
Earache
Earwax
Hayfever
Heartburn/indigestion
Haemorrhoids
Infant decongestant
Mouth ulcers
Nappy rash
Oral thrush
Scabies
Sore throat
Sprains and strains
Sunburn
Threadworms
Vaginal thrush
Warts and verrucas