Residents are being encouraged to turn to their pharmacists for common ailments rather than their GPs during the colder months.

With demand for appointments at doctors’ surgeries sharply rising and winter just around the corner, many people are unaware that pharmacists are able to provide advice and treatment for a wide range of conditions free of charge as part of the Common Ailments Scheme.

Pharmacists, who are highly trained and now providing the time and money saving services, will also be taking the pressure off GP surgeries under the vital medical scheme.

The pharmacists are also trained to refer patients onto a GP when it is clinically necessary.

Cluster lead Fleur Thompson said: ”Winter is always a challenging time for health care. We are expecting this winter to be a particularly difficult one due to the pandemic, but also with other respiratory illnesses and viruses we were not exposed to last winter.

“The GP surgeries struggle to balance planned care for long term health conditions and new urgent health issues, with more minor ailments that could be dealt with by pharmacists.

“This year, with people socialising more, we expect further challenges. We encourage patients to consider whether their ailment is on the Common Ailments Scheme list. If it is, they should consider asking their pharmacy first. Every GP appointment freed up in this way helps others to access the help they need.”

Pharmacies offer services such as flu vaccinations, stop smoking programmes, emergency contraception and medicine reviews.

The Common Ailments Scheme, which is on of the most popular pharmacy services which allows patients to be treated free of charge by their pharmacist for 26 minor conditions including: Acne, Athletes Foot, acute Backache, Chickenpox, Conjunctivitis , Constipation, acute Dermatitis, Dry Eye, Haemorrhoids, Hayfever, Head Lice, Indigestion/reflux, Intertrigo/ringworm, Mouth Ulcers, Nappy rash, Oral thrush, Scabies, Sore throat/tonsillitis, Teething, Threadworm, Vaginal thrush and Verruca.

Advice only conditions on the scheme include Cold Sores, Cold, Diarrhoea and Ingrown toenails.

Advice only conditions are described as conditions when there is not sufficient evidence to support the use of medicines to treat on the NHS. These are subject to the availability of a suitably accredited pharmacist in the store and will depend on the Pharmacists clinical judgement whether “free medicines” are appropriate to be supplied.

A spokesman from the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) said: “Patients using the Common Ailments Scheme appreciate the convenience of not having to make a doctor’s appointment.

“Pharmacists are available to offer advice throughout the full trading hours of the pharmacy, however, patients will often need to make an appointment to be seen at the pharmacy under the services outlined above at a time that is convenient with the Pharmacist, as drop-in appointments aren’t always appropriate around other workloads, however, pharmacists will always endeavour to see patients on the same day.”

To find out where you can access the Common Ailments Scheme or for more information, call 111 or visit the NHS 111 website by clicking here.