Pharmacy First Minor Ailment Scheme

The MK Pharmacy First Minor Ailment Scheme is designed to provide an alternative for some patients seeking a GP appointment for certain minor illnesses and conditions. It is available to patients that are registered with a GP practice in Milton Keynes and fit one of the following criteria.

What is MK Pharmacy First?

  • MK Pharmacy First provides confidential health advice without needing to book an appointment.
  • For children in full time education and those in receipt of benefits, the pharmacy can supply recommended medicines free of charge.
  • Use MK Pharmacy First instead of booking a GP appointment and get immediate advice and treatment.

How do patients use MK Pharmacy First?

  • Ask for MK Pharmacy First at a local Milton Keynes pharmacy, and talk to the pharmacy team in confidence.
  • If advice is needed about a child, the child should be taken to the pharmacy for assessment, similar to a GP or nurse appointment.
  • The pharmacy will recommend appropriate treatment and medication. They may also direct the patient to other services.
  • Provided the patient/parent has asked to be seen under the scheme, the pharmacy can provide any recommended medication free of charge to children in full time education and those in receipt of benefits.

Are there any restrictions to using MK Pharmacy First?

  • The scheme is only available to children in full time education and those in receipt of benefits; they must also be registered with an MK GP.
  • There is a selected list of conditions & products – the products must be supplied for use within their over the counter license.
  • Patients that do not fit the scheme criteria can still seek advice and treatment from a pharmacy but any medicines will need to be paid for.

Many MK pharmacies provide this service meaning that you can now get treatment for minor ailments without having to wait for a doctor’s appointment, in turn freeing up their valuable time.

If you wish to take over-the-counter medicine, please inform the pharmacist if you are taking other medications, to ensure it is safe to take with your regular medicine.

The community pharmacist can offer advice and/or treatment for conditions such as:

  • Cough
  • sore throat
  • headache
  • fever
  • nasal congestion
  • hay fever
  • allergies
  • diarrhoea
  • vaginal thrush
  • threadworm
  • athletes foot, insect bites or stings, mouth ulcers, nappy rash, constipation.

If symptoms persist you should seek further advice from your GP.

Remember, some pharmacies are open later in the evenings and on Saturdays and Sundays. Opening hours are available from NHS Direct via their website www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk, or you can call the pharmacy (numbers below).

Useful Phone Numbers