Brunswick Surgery patients can self-refer directly to a community pharmacist for consultations on minor illnesses, contraception and hypertension case-finding — no GP appointment needed.
Pharmacists can provide advice, treatment, or refer you to a GP or another healthcare professional if needed. They will also update your GP health record after your consultation.
The Pharmacy First Service
This service improves access to healthcare by directing patients to the most appropriate professional — whether that's a GP or a pharmacist. Pharmacists can now offer advice, treatment and NHS medicines for these seven common conditions:
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Earache / Ear Infections Ages 1–17
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Impetigo Ages 1 and over
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Infected Insect Bites Ages 1 and over
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Shingles Ages 18 and over
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Sinusitis Ages 12 and over
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Sore Throat Ages 5 and over
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Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Women aged 16–64 (uncomplicated)
If you are outside these age ranges, your pharmacist can still offer advice and will refer you to a GP if needed. If the pharmacy team cannot assist, they will direct you to the surgery or A&E as appropriate.
Where clinically necessary, pharmacists can supply NHS medicines to treat your condition. Standard prescription charges apply if you normally pay for prescriptions.
Additional Pharmacy Services
Contraceptive Pill Without a Prescription
You may be able to obtain the contraceptive pill directly from a pharmacy if you need to:
- Start it for the first time
- Resume taking it after a break
If you already have a prescription, you can continue using it as usual. This service is available at participating pharmacies.
Free Blood Pressure Check
You can have your blood pressure checked for free at a pharmacy without needing to see a GP if you:
- Are aged 40 or over
- Live in England
You are not eligible if you already have high blood pressure or have had a check by a healthcare professional within the last 6 months.
Emergency Medication Supplies
If Brunswick Surgery is closed and you have run out of your regular repeat prescription medication, you can use the NHS 111 emergency prescription service.
Please note: you cannot use this service to obtain antibiotics or a controlled drug. For those, call 111 and speak to an advisor.
Order Prescriptions via the NHS App
The easiest way to order your repeat prescriptions is through the NHS App. You can request medication quickly and securely from your phone, at any time of day.
Download the NHS App and create an account to get started. Once set up, you can view your medication list and submit repeat requests in seconds. A short video guide is available showing how to order via the app.
Download the NHS App →