Supporting Self-Care: Community Pharmacy Minor Ailments Service
Community Pharmacists already advise patients on a wide range of minor ailments and either recommend treatment or refer on to another healthcare professional. The NI Minor Ailments Service builds upon this expertise allowing community pharmacists to offer some treatments, if they are considered necessary, free of charge to eligible patients on the health service.
Conditions currently covered by the Minor Ailments Service:
Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial Resistance is a threat to your own and your family’s health. You can help by taking some simple steps:
- Only take antibiotics when they are prescribed by a healthcare professional.
- Remember, antibiotics are not effective against viral infections, such as a cold, Covid or the flu. Most simple infections such as sore throats or earaches do not need antibiotics. Your body can usually fight these infections on its own.
- There are other medicines available to purchase to help manage your symptoms.
- If you are prescribed an antibiotic, you must take it exactly as directed.
- Never share antibiotics with anyone else – this could be dangerous.
- Take any unused or unwanted antibiotics to a local community pharmacy for safe disposal.
Pharmacy First service if appropriate for winter illnesses.
