If you or a family member are feeling unwell please be aware of the appropriate medical practitioner you need to consult depending on the symptoms. It is not necessarily a GP.
Did you know there is a Pharmacy first service available? This can be accessed via many of the community pharmacies. Community pharmacies offer a Pharmacy first service to help with everyday Health conditions, without needing to consult with a GP. They will be able to offer advice and treatment of the following conditions:
Acne
Athletes Foot
Diarrhoea
Earwax
Groin Infection
Haemorrhoids
Headlice
Mouth Ulcers
Oral Thrush
Sore Throats
Scabies
Threadworms
UTI
Vaginal Thrush
Verrucae
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Urinary Tract Infection
Do you have any of the following urinary symptoms?
Passing urine more often at night?
Cloudy urine?
Burning pain when passing urine?
Ask your pharmacist first for advice, test and treatment (if needed) without having to contact your GP.
Sore teeth or gums.
If you have a problem with your teeth or gums please contact your dentist. If you contact us about a dental issue (i.e. teeth and gums) you will only be asked to refer yourself to dentistry. A list of dentists can be found on the following link:
HSC Service Finder
Sore eyes
If your have a red, painful or sticky eye or a sudden change in vision please contact your optician or optometrist. The NI Health and Social Care Board provides a locally enhanced service in the form of the Primary Eyecare Assessment and Referral Service (NI PEARS). If you contact us about an eye condition you will only be asked to refer yourself to optometry. You can find a list of accredited optometry practices here:
NI PEARS Optometry Practices
Cold or flu-like symptoms
If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, here are some effective self-care ways to help you feel better:
- Ask your pharmacist to recommend medicines to help with symptoms or pain
- Get plenty of rest
- Make sure you drink enough to avoid feeling thirsty
- Fever is a sign the body is fighting the infection and usually gets better by itself in most cases. You can use paracetamol if you are uncomfortable as a result of a fever.
- Use a tissue to catch sneezes and wash your hands frequently to avoid spreading your infection to family and friends.
How long should your symptoms last?
| Common illnesses |
Most people are better by |
| Ear-ache (middle ear infection) |
8 Days |
| Sore throat |
7 - 8 Days |
| Sinusitis (adults only) |
14 - 21 Days |
| Cold |
14 Days |
| Cough or bronchitis |
21 Days |
Here are some helpful leaflets on the above conditions:
Sore Ear (PDF, 69KB)
Sore Throat (PDF, 66KB)
Conjunctivitis (PDF, 147KB)
Sinusitis (PDF, 71KB)
Common Cold and Flu (PDF, 69KB)
Cough and Acute Bronchitis (PDF, 68KB)
Do I need an Antibiotic? (PDF, 215KB)