Self-care is recommended when you have a minor condition which doesn’t normally need medical care (from a doctor or nurse) or any treatment in order to get better.
Use the below tool to help on conditions, symptoms and treatments, including what to do and when to get help.
Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can offer clinical advice, over the counter medicines and their use, to effectively and safely manage a range of minor health concerns.
They can also help you to decide whether you’ll need to see a doctor. You don’t need an appointment and you won’t even be asked to make a purchase.
Every pharmacy also has a private consultation area for you to talk about your symptoms in private if you prefer.
Once your request has been made, our duty team will triage your request and you will either be:
- Offered an appointment with an appropriate healthcare professional. Either by phone or SMS
This could be with:- Pharmacist
- Nurse
- First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP)
- Healthcare Assistant (HCA)
- GP
- Recive a call back from a healthcare professional
- Get advice via SMS
- Directed to an appropriate service
Pharmacies across North West London can now provide treatment for common health conditions, with no GP appointment or prescription needed.
Highly trained pharmacists can assess and treat patients for seven common health conditions: sinusitis; sore throat; earache; infected insect bite; impetigo; shingles; and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.
Once your request has been made, our duty team will triage your request and you will either be:
- Offered an appointment with an appropriate healthcare professional. Either by phone or SMS
This could be with:- Pharmacist
- Nurse
- First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP)
- Healthcare Assistant (HCA)
- GP
- Recive a call back from a healthcare professional
- Get advice via SMS
- Directed to an appropriate service
NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and you can get help online or on the phone.
If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, you can:
- call 18001 111 on a textphone
- use the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service if you’re deaf and want to use the phone service
Be prepared to care for yourself with a well-stocked medicine cabinet and plenty of rest
- cough or cold
- upset stomach
- pain or headache
- cuts and grazes
- sore throat (but if for two weeks or more contact your GP)
For health advice:
Ask for advice on ailments, medicines and healthier living
- queries about medication, dosage, type or suitability plus urgent requests or if related to hospital discharge
- sore eyes (but if persists go to optician)
- runny nose
- diarrhoea
- bite or sting
Consult online or call us to make an appointment if an illness or injury won’t go away
- repeat prescription such as for back ache, the pill, etc.
- urgent skin problem such as a rash that is spreading
- ear pain
- back ache
Call when situation is not life-threatening
- If you think you need to go to hospital
- If you don’t know the most suitable place to go or call
- If you don’t have a GP to call or if your GP practice is closed
- If you need advice or reassurance about what to do
Available 24 hours a day, every day
Visit for same day, urgent, minor injuries or illness when your GP practice is unavailable
- such as sprains and suspected broken bones
Emergency department or call 999
Only for very serious or life-threatening situations.
If you are unsure, call NHS 111
