Common Ailments Service
Pharmacies throughout North Wales offer a Common Ailments Service.
What is the Common Ailments Service?
The Common Ailments Service offers patients a free NHS consultation with a pharmacist and free medication for some common ailments.
If you visit a pharmacy and have a common ailment, you can ask the pharmacist for advice and support. The pharmacist may supply you with medication to treat the common ailment.
- You can use this service if you live in Wales and are registered with a GP Practice. This includes temporary residents.
- You may need to show the pharmacist some form of identification before you can use the service but this will depend on whether you are known to the pharmacist.
- You can only register with one community pharmacy at a time for the common ailment service. If you want to go to another community pharmacy for the service you can, but you will need to register with the new pharmacy.
- You will have a consultation with a qualified pharmacist in a confidential area within the pharmacy
- If your pharmacist agrees that you need a medicine or product to treat your symptoms, they may be able to give it to you free of charge under this service. If you do not wish to register with the service the pharmacist will provide you with advice but will not be able to supply any free medication.
What ailments and illnesses come under the Common Ailments Service?
- Acne
- Athlete’s foot
- Back pain
- Chicken pox
- Cold sores
- Colic
- Constipation
- Dermatitis
- Diarrhoea
- Dry eyes
- Eczema
- Eye infections
- Hay fever
- Head lice
- Indigestion
- Ingrowing toenails
- Intertrigo
- Mouth ulcers
- Nappy rash
- Oral thrush
- Piles
- Ringworm
- Scabies
- Sore throat
- Teething
- Threadworms
- Vaginal thrush
- Verruca
If your pharmacist feels that it is more appropriate for you to see your GP or another healthcare professional then they may tell you to make an appointment.
For more information on the Common Ailments Service, see the NHS 111 Wales website.