Care at the Chemist/Minor Ailments
Instead of booking and waiting for a GP appointment you can visit your local pharmacist. We can help you with many common health complaints, we can give advice or where appropriate we can offer medicines that will help clear up the problem (we will advise you to see your GP if we feel that is needed.)
Ailments treated under Care at the Chemist (St Helens)
According to the St Helens Cares website, the following conditions can currently be treated by a pharmacist under the service:
Allergies
Athlete’s foot
Cold sores
Colic
Constipation
Coughs, colds and sore throats
Cystitis (women)
Diarrhoea
Ear wax
Haemorrhoids
Headache
Head lice
Indigestion
Mouth ulcers
Minor eye infections
Minor skin reactions
Nappy rash
Nasal congestion
Oral thrush
Pain or temperature (fever)
Teething
Threadworm
Thrush (genital)
Warts and verrucas
The scheme allows pharmacists to assess, advise and provide treatment (including free medication for those exempt from NHS prescription charges) for these conditions. This is confirmed by the service specification issued by NHS Cheshire & Merseyside ICB, which outlines that pharmacists can supply treatments for a defined list of minor ailments using an agreed local formulary.
