Shingles treatment, NHS Pharmacy First | Reliance Pharmacy group

Pharmacy First - Shingles

Shingles: why the first three days matter, and how Reliance Pharmacy can help

The clock is ticking

Shingles is the chickenpox virus waking up years later. It causes a painful, blistering rash in a band on one side of the body, often with tingling or burning a day or two before the rash appears. Antiviral tablets work best when started within 72 hours of the rash, which is why being able to walk into a pharmacy matters.

Who can use it

Adults aged 18 and over. Shingles on the face, near the eye, in someone with a weakened immune system, or in a pregnant woman needs a doctor the same day, and the pharmacist will direct you there.

What happens in the pharmacy

The pharmacist examines the rash in private, confirms it is shingles and checks how long it has been there. If you are within the treatment window, or a little beyond it but still developing new blisters, they can supply antiviral tablets under NHS rules. They will also advise on pain relief, which is often the biggest problem with shingles.

Protecting others and yourself

Keep the rash covered and away from pregnant women, babies and anyone with a weak immune system until it has dried. If you are 50 or over, ask us about the shingles vaccine, which greatly reduces the chance of it coming back.

Book today

Book online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Book Appointment

Other Services

Pharmacy First - Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infection? Get NHS treatment at Reliance Pharmacy without a GP appointmentWhat Pharmacy First means for youPharmacy First is an NHS service that lets our pharmacists assess and treat seven common conditions, including uncomplicated urinary tract infections. You do not need to see a GP first and there is no charge for the consultation. If you need antibiotics and you normally pay for prescriptions, the usual prescription charge applies; if you are exempt, the medicine is free.Who can use itThe UTI pathway is for women aged 16 to 64 who are not pregnant, do not have a catheter and have not had a UTI in the last few weeks that was treated. Men, children, pregnant women and anyone with symptoms of a kidney infection, such as a high temperature, back pain or feeling very unwell, need to see a GP or call 111, and our pharmacist will direct you straight away if that applies.What happens in the pharmacyYou will 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 the infection is likely to clear on its own, or refer you on. The consultation is recorded and your GP is told, so your medical record stays complete.When to come inThe earlier the better. Most consultations take about ten minutes. If your symptoms have not improved within 48 hours of starting treatment, or you develop a fever or back pain, come back or contact 111.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Pharmacy First - Sore throat

Sore throat: when a pharmacist can treat it under NHS Pharmacy FirstMost sore throats do not need antibioticsNine out of ten sore throats are caused by viruses and get better on their own within a week. A small number are bacterial and benefit from antibiotics. The NHS Pharmacy First service lets our pharmacist tell the difference using a scoring system called FeverPAIN, so you get the right treatment without a GP appointment.Who can use itAnyone aged 5 and over. The pharmacist will refer you elsewhere if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, are drooling, have a muffled voice, a very stiff neck, or are severely unwell. Those signs need urgent care, not a pharmacy.What happens in the pharmacyIn our consultation room the pharmacist looks at your throat with a torch, checks for a temperature, swollen glands and pus on the tonsils, and asks how long you have had it and whether you have a cough. That produces 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. The consultation is free; the usual prescription charge applies to any antibiotic unless you are exempt.Getting betterParacetamol or ibuprofen, warm drinks and medicated lozenges all help. If you are not improving after three to five days, or you get worse, come back and we will look again.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any 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; current prices are on our website.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 todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Cholesterol Testing Service

Free cholesterol check at Reliance Pharmacy: ten minutes that could protect your heartWhy cholesterol mattersHigh cholesterol has no symptoms, yet it is one of the main causes of heart attack and stroke. The only way to know your level is to test it. A quick finger prick test at the pharmacy gives you a result in minutes and tells you whether you need to make changes or see your GP.Who can have itThe check is free for adults aged 40 and over who are registered with a GP in England and have not already been diagnosed with high cholesterol. If you are outside those groups, ask us; a private test is available.What happens in the pharmacyYou will have a short, confidential conversation with the pharmacist about your health and family history, then a finger prick test. The pharmacist explains your result, gives advice on diet, activity and weight where relevant, and refers you to your GP if your level is high. A copy of the result is sent to your GP practice so it is on your record.Small changes, big differenceCutting saturated fat, eating more fibre, moving more and stopping smoking all lower cholesterol. If you smoke, our stop smoking service can help at the same visit.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Pharmacy First - Acute otitis Media

Earache in children: NHS ear infection treatment at Reliance PharmacyA painful, common problemAcute otitis media is an infection of the middle ear. It is very common in young children and usually follows a cold. It causes ear pain, a temperature, irritability and sometimes fluid from the ear. Most cases settle within three days, but some need treatment.Who can use itChildren and young people aged 1 to 17. Babies under 1, and any child who is very unwell, floppy, has a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade, or swelling behind the ear, need urgent medical care and the pharmacist will say so immediately.What happens in the pharmacyThe pharmacist examines the ear with an otoscope, the same instrument a GP uses, and checks the eardrum. Depending on what they see, they will advise on pain relief, supply anaesthetic ear drops for pain, or supply antibiotics under NHS rules where the infection is severe or not settling. Everything is recorded and your GP practice is informed.At homeRegular paracetamol or ibuprofen in the right dose for your child’s age does more for earache than anything else. Keep your child drinking. If the pain has not eased after three days, or your child gets worse, come back or call 111.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Ear Wax Removal

Blocked ears? Professional ear wax removal at Reliance PharmacyWhen wax becomes a problemEar wax is normal and protects the ear. It becomes a problem when it builds up and hardens, causing muffled hearing, a feeling of fullness, earache, ringing or dizziness. Cotton buds push it deeper. Many GP practices no longer remove wax, which is why more people come to us.Who it is forAdults with blocked ears or hearing loss caused by wax. We check the ear first; if there is an infection, a perforated eardrum, recent ear surgery or the problem is not wax, we will tell you and point you to the right care.What happensAfter a short assessment we look in the ear to confirm wax is the cause, then remove it using approved methods in our private consultation room. Most people hear better immediately. You get advice on softening drops and how to reduce build up in future.Before you comeUsing olive oil drops for three to five days beforehand softens the wax and makes removal quicker and more comfortable. Prices for one or both ears are on our website.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Quit Smoking Support

Stop smoking with Reliance Pharmacy: you are up to three times more likely to succeed with supportWhy support worksWillpower alone gives you about a one in twenty chance of quitting for good. Add the right nicotine replacement and weekly support and the odds improve three fold. Our pharmacists and trained advisers have helped many people stop, and they know the difficult weeks come early.What we offerA confidential first conversation to plan your quit, a choice of nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, sprays and inhalators, advice on stop smoking tablets where suitable, and regular check ins with a breath test to show your progress. If you have recently left hospital, you may be referred to us to carry on the support started on the ward.CostSupport is free. Depending on where you live and how you are referred, nicotine replacement may be free on the NHS or available to buy at pharmacy prices. Ask us and we will tell you exactly what applies to you.VapingIf you already vape, or are thinking about it as a way to stop, we can advise. Vaping is far less harmful than smoking, but the aim is to stop nicotine altogether, and we can help with that too.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any 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. Current prices are listed on our website. Bring your last pen box if you are transferring from another provider so we can keep your dose continuous.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Blood Pressure Checks

Free NHS blood pressure check at Reliance Pharmacy: no appointment, no costThe silent oneHigh blood pressure rarely causes symptoms, but it damages the heart, brain and kidneys over years. Around one in three adults in England has it and many do not know. A check takes less than ten minutes and could be the most useful thing you do this month.Who can have itThe NHS check is free for anyone aged 40 and over who has not been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and for anyone under 40 whose GP or pharmacist thinks they should be checked. You do not need an appointment, although booking avoids waiting.What happens in the pharmacyYou sit quietly for a few minutes, then a trained member of the team takes your reading with an automatic cuff. You get the result straight away with clear advice. If it is raised, we can fit a small monitor that records 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.Already on treatment?You are still welcome. A pharmacy check between GP reviews helps you and your doctor see whether your medicine is doing its job.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception at Reliance Pharmacy: quick, private and judgement freeThe sooner, the betterEmergency contraception works best the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex or a contraceptive failure. Levonorgestrel can be taken up to 72 hours afterwards and ulipristal (ellaOne) up to 120 hours, but both are more effective in the first 24 hours. You do not need an appointment; ask at the counter for a private word with the pharmacist.What happensThe pharmacist will ask a few questions in the consultation room: when it happened, where you are in your cycle, what medicines you take and whether you are breastfeeding. That decides which tablet suits you. You can take it there and then. The whole thing 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 is not, it is available privately. Tell us your situation and we will explain what applies.AfterwardsYour next period may be early or late. Take a pregnancy test if it is more than a week late. If you are not using regular contraception, our pharmacists can now start you on the pill under the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service at the same visit.Book todayBook online at reliancepharmacy.co.uk or ask in any Reliance Pharmacy branch.

Explore Services