Pharmacy First for Sore Throat
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Pharmacy First provides an assessment pathway for eligible sore-throat patients. It is not an automatic route to antibiotics.
Describe the symptoms, their timing and any medicines already tried.
What the consultation should establish
Explain duration, severity, medical history and what you have tried. Ask what the findings mean, what treatment is intended to help and what to do if symptoms change.
Choose the right care route
The Pharmacy First sore-throat pathway is for people aged 5 and over. Ask a GP about a child under 5. Eligibility and the findings of the consultation determine the next step.
When to seek urgent help: Call 999 or go to A&E for difficulty breathing or being unable to swallow. Seek urgent advice through NHS 111 for dehydration or other urgent concerns.
Your next steps
- Record when symptoms began, their impact and whether they are changing.
- Bring a medicine list, allergies and details of products already tried.
- Ask what the proposed treatment can help with, how to use it and when to seek review.
Assessment helps identify suitable advice and when another care route is needed.
Read about our Pharmacy First service and the NHS guidance.
