By Lauren Harte

Copyright belfastlive

Many patients already know they can receive help from high street pharmacies for minor illnesses, without needing to book a GP appointment. And as we head into the colder months and a busy time of year for our health service, it’s important to be aware of services available to ensure you get the right care at the right time in the right place. The Pharmacy First service is available at participating community pharmacies across Northern Ireland . If you have an everyday health condition , you can use the Pharmacy First service to get advice and treatment from a local pharmacist, without waiting for an appointment to see your GP. Many community pharmacies have longer opening hours including weekends and holidays, making them more accessible than a GP surgery. You can call into the pharmacy for a private consultation with the pharmacist without needing to make an appointment. But what other health concerns can pharmacists help you with? This service is offered from every community pharmacy in NI and provides advice and if necessary treatment for conditions such a The Pharmacy First service is available to adults aged 18 and over. You will have a consultation with a trained community pharmacist, in a private area of the pharmacy. The pharmacist will assess your symptoms and provide appropriate treatment and advice. The morning after pill is available from the majority of pharmacies across Northern Ireland. If you are aged 13 or older, you can now get the morning after pill free from community pharmacies across Northern Ireland. When using this service, you will receive a private and confidential consultation with the pharmacist without the need to make an appointment. The pharmacist will provide sexual health advice which includes the risks of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and how to obtain free tests if needed. As well as providing free emergency contraception, the pharmacist will give you advice about regular methods of contraception. They may also give you a free three months’ supply of the contraceptive pill. What is the morning after pill? Community pharmacies across Northern Ireland will be able to provide further information about the service and have information leaflets available. If you are female and aged between 16 and 64 you can be assessed and treated for Urinary Tract Infection symptoms in the majority of community pharmacies without having to wait for a GP appointment. Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) You will have a confidential consultation with the pharmacist in a private area of the pharmacy. Your symptoms will be assessed and a urine sample taken if necessary. The pharmacist will provide advice regarding self-care and what to do if your symptoms do not clear up or get worse. Treatment to relieve UTI symptoms is free of charge and an antibiotic may be provided if needed. They may provide further advice or refer you to your GP if your symptoms have not cleared up or have got worse. Sore throats are very common and are usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better within a week. Most are caused by minor illnesses, such as colds or flu and can be treated at home. For more information on managing a sore throat, click here . The Pharmacy First Service for sore throat is usually offered in most community pharmacies across Northern Ireland in winter. Anyone aged 5 years and above with a sore throat can access the service in a participating pharmacy. The pharmacist will offer a confidential consultation in a private area of the pharmacy where they will discuss how you are feeling and the symptoms you are experiencing. The pharmacist may carry out a test, usually a throat swab, to help diagnose the cause of the sore throat if needed. Not everyone will need one. Treatment is available free of charge to relieve symptoms such as pain and fever. The pharmacist will also offer advice. Sore throats are normally caused by viral infections and will normally go away by themselves, however community pharmacists will provide advice and treatment where appropriate should a bacterial sore throat be diagnosed. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse the pharmacist may advise you to see your doctor. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.