Infected insect bite treatment, Essex | Reliance Pharmacy group

Pharmacy First - Insect Bite

Bite looking angry? Get it checked today

Most insect bites are itchy and swollen for a few days and need nothing more than an antihistamine or a cold compress. Trouble starts when bacteria get in. Watch for spreading redness, increasing pain, heat, pus, or a bite that's getting worse after 48 hours instead of better.

Who can come in

Anyone aged 1 and over with an infected looking bite or sting picked up in the UK. Bites from abroad, tick bites with a spreading circular rash, bites near the eye, and anyone with a fever, a fast spreading rash or a severe allergic reaction need a GP or urgent care, and the pharmacist will refer you.

What happens

The pharmacist examines the bite in our consultation room, asks when it happened and how it has changed, and decides whether it's infected. If it is, they can supply antibiotics under NHS rules. If not, they'll recommend the right antihistamine, steroid cream or pain relief. The consultation is free.

Stop the next one

Cover up at dusk, use a repellent containing DEET, and try not to scratch: broken skin is how infection gets in. Heading somewhere with mosquitoes? Ask about our travel clinic.

Get seen today

Use the Book Appointment button on this page, or call your local Reliance Pharmacy branch.

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Other Services

Pharmacy First - Sore throat

Sore throat? Get it checked today, no GP appointment neededMost sore throats are caused by viruses and clear up on their own within a week. A few are bacterial and need antibiotics. Under the NHS Pharmacy First service, our pharmacist can tell which is which using a scoring system called FeverPAIN, so you get the right treatment without waiting for a GP.Who can come inAnyone aged 5 and over. If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, are drooling, have a muffled voice or a very stiff neck, or feel severely unwell, you need urgent care rather than a pharmacy, and we'll direct you straight away.What happensIn our private consultation room, the pharmacist looks at your throat, checks your temperature and glands, and asks a few quick questions, such as how long you've had it and whether you have a cough. That gives a score. A low score means self care: pain relief, fluids and rest. A high score means antibiotics can be supplied there and then under NHS rules.What it costsThe consultation is free. If you need antibiotics, the usual prescription charge applies unless you're exempt.Feel better soonerParacetamol or ibuprofen, warm drinks and medicated lozenges all help. Not improving after three to five days, or getting worse? Come back and we'll take another look.Get seen todayUse the Book Appointment button on this page, or call your local Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Pharmacy First - Urinary Tract Infection

UTI? Get NHS treatment today, without a GP appointmentThat burning, can't stop going feeling is miserable, and you shouldn't have to wait days for help. Under the NHS Pharmacy First service, our pharmacists can assess and treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections. There's no charge for the consultation.Who can come inWomen aged 16 to 64 who are not pregnant, don't have a catheter and haven't had a UTI treated in the last few weeks. Men, children, pregnant women and anyone with signs of a kidney infection, such as a high temperature, back pain or feeling very unwell, need to see a GP or call 111. Our pharmacist will direct you straight away if that applies.What happensYou'll be seen in our private consultation room. The pharmacist asks about your symptoms: pain or burning when you pass urine, needing to go more often or more urgently, and pain low in your tummy. They check for anything that needs a doctor, then either supply a short course of antibiotics under NHS rules, recommend pain relief and self care if it's likely to clear on its own, or refer you on. Your GP is told, so your record stays complete.What it costsThe consultation is free. If you need antibiotics and normally pay for prescriptions, the usual charge applies; if you're exempt, the medicine is free.Don't wait it outMost consultations take about ten minutes. If you're not improving within 48 hours of starting treatment, or you develop a fever or back pain, come back or contact 111.Get seen todayUse the Book Appointment button on this page, or call your local Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Travel Health Vaccination

Travel vaccinations: everything you need, in one visitPlan ahead, travel easySome vaccines need two or three doses spread over weeks, and some take two weeks to work, so the ideal time to see us is six to eight weeks before you fly. Leaving sooner? Come in anyway: there's nearly always something useful we can do.One appointment, a complete planBring your itinerary and any vaccination records. The pharmacist checks the current recommendations for every country you're visiting, what you've had before, your health and the kind of trip you're taking, then gives you a written plan. Vaccines are given at the same visit where possible. There's no consultation fee; you pay only for what you have.Vaccines and pricesVaccinePer doseDoses per coursePrice per courseChikungunya£1821£182Cholera (oral)£362£72Hepatitis A£671£67Hepatitis A and typhoid (combined)£851£85Hepatitis A and B (combined)£873£261Hepatitis B£523£156Japanese encephalitis£1172£234Meningitis ACWY (Hajj certificate)£601£60MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)£451 or 2£45 or £90Polio, diphtheria and tetanus£421£42Rabies£823£246Tick borne encephalitis£673£201Typhoid£421£42ChildrenVaccinePer doseDoses per coursePrice per courseHepatitis A (children)£652£130Hepatitis A and B (children)£553£165Hepatitis B (children)£293£87Tick borne encephalitis (children)£673£201Antimalarials and travel medicinesMalarone (atovaquone and proguanil) £3.00 per tablet; Malarone for children £1.25 per tablet; doxycycline £0.65 per capsule; other antimalarials from £0.65 per dose; travellers’ diarrhoea antibiotic course £30. Tablets are priced individually so you pay only for the length of your trip.Beyond vaccinesWe also advise on insect bite prevention, altitude, jet lag, travellers' diarrhoea and period delay, and can put together a travel first aid kit. Prices from September 2026, subject to change and to vaccine availability. Doses can be paid for one at a time.Book your travel consultationUse the Book Appointment button on this page, or call your local Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Blood Pressure Checks

Know your numbers in 10 minutes, for freeHigh blood pressure usually has no symptoms. You can feel completely fine while it quietly strains your heart, brain and kidneys. Around one in three adults in England has it, and many have no idea.Pop in, sit down, get your answerA member of our team takes your reading with an automatic cuff after you've rested for a few minutes. You get your result straight away, with clear advice on what it means. If it's raised, we can fit a small monitor that tracks your blood pressure over 24 hours at home, which gives your GP a far better picture than a single reading. The results go to your GP practice.Is it free for me?Yes, if you're 40 or over and haven't been diagnosed with high blood pressure. If you're under 40 and your GP or pharmacist thinks you should be checked, it's free for you too. Already on treatment? Come in anyway. A check between GP reviews shows whether your medicine is doing its job.Ten minutes well spentNo appointment needed, though booking means no waiting. Use the Book Appointment button on this page, or just walk in.

Contraceptive Pill Repeat Supply

Your pill, sorted. No GP appointment neededUnder the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service, our pharmacists can supply your usual combined or progestogen only pill, or start you on the pill for the first time, without a GP or clinic appointment. The consultation and the pill are free.Who can come inAnyone who uses, or wants to start using, an oral contraceptive pill. The pharmacist checks your blood pressure and weight, asks about your health and any medicines, and makes sure the pill is safe for you. If a different method would suit you better, we'll tell you.What you getUp to a year's supply, usually issued in three month lots, with your GP practice informed so your record stays complete. We can also talk through other options, including long acting methods available through your GP or sexual health clinic.Running low?Come in before you finish your current pack. If you've already run out, ask us about emergency contraception too.Book in minutesUse the Book Appointment button on this page, or call your local Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Mounjaro Injections - (Price per Strength/Dose)

Mounjaro at Reliance Pharmacy: how it works, who it suits and what to expectHow Mounjaro worksMounjaro contains tirzepatide, which acts on two of the body’s appetite hormones, GIP and GLP-1. It slows the emptying of the stomach and reduces hunger, so you eat less without feeling deprived. In clinical trials people lost on average around a fifth of their body weight over 72 weeks when it was combined with diet and activity changes.Who it suitsAdults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight related health condition. It is not suitable in pregnancy, breastfeeding, with a history of pancreatitis or certain thyroid conditions, and it interacts with some medicines. The pharmacist checks all of this before supplying.Starting and increasing the doseEveryone starts on 2.5 mg once a week for four weeks, then moves up in steps to the dose that works for them. Going up too fast causes more side effects, so we increase at monthly reviews. You inject yourself with a pre filled pen into the tummy or thigh; we show you how the first time.Pricing and supplyEach strength is priced per pen, which lasts four weeks, and includes the consultation and follow up. Prices are listed below. Bring your last pen box if you are transferring from another provider so we can keep your dose continuous.PricesEach price is for one pen (four weeks) and includes your consultation and review.2.5 mg£165.995 mg£185.997.5 mg£239.9910 mg£269.9912.5 mg£279.9915 mg£299.99Book todayUse the Book Appointment button on this page, or call your local Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Weight Loss & Management

Medicated weight loss at Reliance Pharmacy: support that goes beyond the injectionMore than a prescriptionWeight loss medicines work, but they work best with someone alongside you. Our programme starts with a proper consultation, checks you are suitable, and follows up every month so the dose is right, side effects are managed and the weight that comes off stays off.Who it is forAdults with a body mass index of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or sleep apnoea. The pharmacist will measure you, take a medical history and check current medicines before anything is supplied. Some people are not suitable, and we will tell you honestly if that is the case.The optionsMounjaro and Wegovy are once weekly injections that reduce appetite and slow digestion, so you feel full sooner and for longer. Orlistat is a capsule taken with meals that reduces the fat your body absorbs and suits people who prefer not to inject. Prices include the consultation and one month’s supply: Mounjaro from £165.99 and Wegovy from £98.99 per four week supply, with full price lists on each page.What to expectNausea and changes in bowel habit are common in the first weeks and usually settle. Eating smaller meals, avoiding fatty food and drinking plenty of water help. Your reviews are where we adjust the dose and keep you on track.Book todayUse the Book Appointment button on this page, or call your local Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Period Delay

Delay your period for a holiday or big event, safely, at Reliance PharmacyTake control of the timingA holiday, a wedding, an exam, a religious festival: there are plenty of reasons to want your period out of the way. Norethisterone tablets postpone it for up to 17 days, and our pharmacists can supply them after a short consultation.How it worksYou take one tablet three times a day, starting three days before your period is due, and carry on for as long as you want to delay, up to 17 days. Your period usually arrives two to three days after you stop. It is not a contraceptive, so use your normal method as well.Who can use itWomen with regular cycles who are not pregnant and not already on the combined pill (if you are, simply run packs together; ask us how). Norethisterone is not suitable for anyone with a history of blood clots, liver problems or certain cancers, which is why the pharmacist asks a few questions first.Side effects and costSome women get bloating, breast tenderness or mood changes. The price depends on how many days you need, starting from £24.99.Book todayUse the Book Appointment button on this page, or call your local Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Pharmacy First - Sinusitis

Blocked, sore and under pressure? We can help with sinusitisWhen your sinuses become inflamed after a cold, they fill with mucus. The result is facial pain and pressure, a blocked nose, thick discharge and sometimes a dulled sense of smell. Most cases are viral and settle within two to three weeks, but you don't have to just put up with it.Who can come inAnyone aged 12 and over. Symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks, severe pain, swelling around the eye or a very high temperature need a GP or urgent care.What happensThe pharmacist asks about your symptoms and how long you've had them. If you've had sinusitis for around ten days or more and it isn't improving, they can supply a steroid nasal spray, and antibiotics where there are signs of bacterial infection, all under NHS Pharmacy First. For shorter illnesses they'll recommend pain relief, saline rinses and decongestants. The consultation is free.Ease the pressure at homeSteam, warm compresses over the face, staying upright and drinking plenty all help. Come back if you're not better within a week of treatment.Get seen todayUse the Book Appointment button on this page, or call your local Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception: quick, private and judgement freeAccidents happen. Emergency contraception works best the sooner it's taken after unprotected sex or a contraceptive failure. Levonorgestrel can be taken up to 72 hours afterwards and ulipristal up to 120 hours, but both are more effective in the first 24 hours. You don't need an appointment: just ask at the counter for a private word with the pharmacist.What happensThe pharmacist asks a few questions in our consultation room: when it happened, where you are in your cycle, what medicines you take and whether you're breastfeeding. That decides which tablet suits you, and you can take it there and then. It takes about ten minutes, and nothing is discussed at the counter.CostEmergency contraception is free on the NHS for many people through pharmacy schemes, and where it isn't, it's available privately. Tell us your situation and we'll explain what applies.AfterwardsYour next period may be early or late. Take a pregnancy test if it's more than a week late. If you're not using regular contraception, our pharmacists can start you on the pill under the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service at the same visit.Come in todayUse the Book Appointment button on this page, or call your local Reliance Pharmacy branch.

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