
Book a Pharmacy First online consultation
My Local Surgery can help with common conditions under the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, with prescription medication, delivered for free.
Peer reviewed by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGPAuthored by Thomas Andrew Porteus, MBCSOriginally published 22 Jun 2025
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In this series:Self-referral Refer yourself for NHS antenatal careRefer yourself to NHS stop smoking services Refer yourself to NHS sexual health servicesNHS talking therapies - self referralRefer yourself to NHS drug and alcohol support services
NHS Pharmacy First is a new scheme from the Government and NHS in England. It allows patients to get treatment, including prescription medications where necessary, for common conditions without the need for a GP appointment.
Through NHS Pharmacy First, My Local Surgery offers fast, free private online consultations with an NHS pharmacist for quick diagnosis and prescriptions for a range of minor illnesses.
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About the authorView full bio

Thomas Andrew Porteus, MBCS
HealthTech
MBCS
Thomas writes to inform, inspire, and equip practice leaders and health professionals navigating change, drawing on two decades of hands-on work across the UK health system.
About the reviewerView full bio

Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP
General Practitioner, Medical Author
MBBS, MRCGP, MRCP (Paediatrics), DCH
Dr Colin Tidy is an NHS Doctor, based in Oxfordshire.
Article history
The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
Article also available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, and Swedish.
22 Jun 2025 | Originally published
Authored by:
Thomas Andrew Porteus, MBCSPeer reviewed by
Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP

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