The NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (NHS CPCS)  is a new service that will direct patients to the most appropriate healthcare professional when booking an appointment, which may be a local community pharmacist either virtually or at their pharmacy.

We believe this is a good thing, as your local pharmacist is a highly trained and skilled clinician experienced in treating minor illnesses and should be quicker. In addition, this approach saves much-needed appointments for more complex health needs. Finally, it ensures that everyone gets treated at the right time, by the right healthcare professional, withoutnecessarily having to see a GP.

What conditions can the clinical pharmacist treat?

Examples include minor ailments and minor illnesses such as:

• Bites and stings
• Colds and flu-like symptoms
• Congestion (blocked or runny nose, hay fever, excess mucus etc.)
• Ear wax
• Eyes (conjunctivitis, dry, runny or sore eyes)
• Gastric & Bowel issues (constipation, heartburn, indigestion, haemorrhoids, vomiting)
• Gynae & Thrush conditions
• General muscular pain, sprains and strains
• Skin conditions (acne, athlete's foot, dermatitis, rashes, warts &verrucas, etc.)
• Mouth & throat conditions (cold sore, ulcers, sore throat etc.)

What conditions aren't referred to the clinical pharmacist?

These include:

• Children aged under one
• Immunosuppressed patients
• Severe symptoms
• Pregnant patients
• Symptoms/conditions that have lasted more than three weeks