Can’t make an appointment with your family doctor? The Complete List of Summer Health Problems Your Local Pharmacy Can Treat Without a Prescription

We look forward to summer every year, but higher temperatures bring with them a host of health problems.

From nasty bug bites to UTIs – if it’s hard to get an appointment with a GP strikes a cord of dread inside you, so look no further.

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You can treat many summer health problems at your local pharmacy, no appointment necessary.

This was made possible by a scheme called Pharmacy First, which allows chemists to treat seven common health problems – from earaches and infected insect bites, UTIs and impetigo.

Launched in pharmacies in England earlier this year, the scheme is available in most Boots stores across the country.

TV doctor and NHS GP Dr Sara Kayat told The Sun exactly what you can expect when walking into a pharmacy to access Pharmacy First care.

“Pharmacists have received specialized training to treat and diagnose seven common health conditions,” she says.

Some of these may be more common during the summer months.

“The idea is to free up time for a GP and means patients can access specialist healthcare and advice for common health problems without needing to wait for an appointment with their GP,” explains Dr . Sara.

It could also mean that you can pop in after school or work to access treatment without having to take time off.

Worried that you won’t receive the same care you would from a family doctor?

There is no need, says Dr. Sara, to have worked closely with pharmacists throughout her career.

“They are really highly qualified health professionals, they undergo extensive training”, he explains.

In addition to completing four-year university courses plus a year of professional training, pharmacists participating in the program also have to undergo additional training.

“Pharmacists are, first and foremost, experts in medicine,” says Dr. Sara, so they are definitely the people to turn to with questions about medications.

And if you’re not sure whether an illness should be treated by a pharmacist or GP, it’s worth popping into your local pharmacy to check – they can refer you to a GP if necessary.

Here are the four common summer conditions you can treat by a pharmacist—and the signs that mean you need to take care of your condition.

1. Infected insect bites

“Infected insect bites tend to be more common in the summer, first because insects tend to be more prevalent, but also because we tend to go out more, lying on the grass, in the open air,” explains Dr. Sara.

“We also tend to wear less clothing and cover ourselves less, so we are more likely to be bitten.

“Where you are most likely to be bitten, you are most likely to infect them,” adds the GP.

Although very irritating, insect bites are not usually a cause for concern. The itchy bumps should disappear within a few days.

“With an infected bug bite, that red bump starts to get bigger or the redness starts to spread,” notes Dr. Sara.

“It may then start to become painful and increasingly itchy, and sometimes it may also create pus and discharge.”

So if you’re wondering whether you should see a pharmacist about bug bites, these are the warning signs to look out for.

2. Earache

Earache is another common summer ailment that arises as we spend more time swimming and splashing in the sea or pools.

“Swimming pools and the beach can wreak havoc on your children’s ears, so you tend to see an increase in ear infections during the summer,” explains Dr. Sara.

Fortunately, it’s another condition covered by Pharmacy First.

Want to know when to get your earache checked?

It’s worth consulting a pharmacist about ear pain if you’re experiencing “very severe pain that is not relieved by simple pain relief”, according to the GP.

If you notice a reduction in your hearing and tinnitus – a high-pitched ringing or ringing inside your ear – then it’s a sign to take care of your ear pain.

You may even have a fever or feel sick, like you would with the flu, Dr. Sara adds.

3. Sinusitis

Sinusitis – swelling of the sinuses usually caused by infections or allergies – can also be common during the summer, depending on the type.

As Dr. Sara explained: “There is viral sinusitis, there is chronic sinusitis – which can be related to allergens – and then there is bacterial sinusitis.

“If you have the type of sinusitis triggered by allergies, pollen and hay fever can also be a big trigger.”

Sinusitis can vary in severity, depending on your family doctor.

“As it becomes more severe, you may notice a significant headache, toothache and you may have a fever along with it.

“You may also notice significant sensitivity around the eyes, cheeks or forehead and some people may also have their sense of smell affected, sometimes even noticing a bad smell or taste because of the effect of the mucus,” adds Dr. Sara .

4. UTIs

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are usually caused by bacteria that enter the bladder, urethra, or kidneys.

And they may be more common in the summer, according to Dr Sara, with the hot weather causing “the perfect storm” for them to flower.

“One of the main triggers can be the dehydration aspect of summer, because if you don’t drink enough fluids, you don’t excrete as much and your urine becomes more concentrated, which can also irritate your bladder,” she explained.

Having sex and not keeping the area clean and dry can also increase the chance of bacteria entering the urinary tract.

An important sign of the infection is burning or stinging when peeing.

You may end up urinating more frequently and your urine may become darker, cloudier or start to smell bad, Dr. Sara said.

“You may notice some blood in the urine and pain in the suprapubic area – the lower part of the belly – or even in the back,” the GP added.

“The things you really need to be careful about are: if you start to get a fever, your back pain becomes more prominent, or if you don’t feel well about it.”

You can get a UTI taken care of by a pharmacist at Pharmacy First – as long as it’s “hassle-free.”

This covers the “standard” UTI symptoms like “burning, stinging, and urinating more frequently,” according to Dr. Sara.

“But when you start to feel significant back pain associated with that, if you start to notice that you’re not well, if you have a fever, then all of that could indicate that everything has become complicated, which essentially means that it could be rising. towards the kidneys”, warned the general practitioner.

“This needs more immediate treatment,” she said, meaning you should see a doctor immediately or go to the hospital.

“Obviously, GPs will try to treat you initially, but in some cases you will need to be examined in hospital,” explained Dr Sara.

What can I expect from a Pharmacy First consultation?

So, you walk into a pharmacy asking for a common condition to be attended to by a pharmacist – which next?

“You will be offered a consultation, usually in a private room,” explains Dr. Sara.

Just as a family doctor would do, the pharmacist will ask you some questions about your health, perform an examination and offer treatment based on these findings.

“Very similar to a GP appointment,” according to Dr Sara.

And if there is any doubt or uncertainty surrounding the diagnosis, you will be referred to your family doctor.

If your condition persists with treatment, Dr. Sara suggests you see a doctor.

“I would probably suggest in these cases trying to go straight to your GP if you’ve already been to the pharmacy in the first place,” she explains.

“It’s in the title Pharmacy First – that’s the first port of call, but there’s always the GP as the second port of call.”

For more information about NHS Pharmacy First Service, available in Boots stores in England, visit boots.com/farmacia Primeiro.