Free NHS service · Timperley, Altrincham
See a pharmacist, not a GP — for 7 common conditions
NHS Pharmacy First lets our pharmacist give you advice and, where appropriate, NHS treatment for seven everyday conditions — often the same day, with no GP appointment and no charge for the consultation.
Our services
What we do
NHS Pharmacy First & services
Free advice and treatment for 7 common conditions, contraception, emergency contraception and blood pressure checks. No GP needed.
See NHS services → SpecialistTravel Vaccinations & BCG
Full private travel vaccinations and TB (BCG) vaccines, run by our specialist sister clinics in Altrincham.
See travel & BCG → Free NHSContraception
The contraceptive pill and emergency contraception, free on the NHS — no GP appointment needed.
See contraception → SpecialistEar Wax Removal
Safe microsuction ear wax removal — gentle and effective — by appointment at our specialist Altrincham clinic.
Visit ear wax service → SpecialistWeight Management
Clinician-led private weight management programme — assessment, plan and ongoing support tailored to you.
Visit weight service →No GP appointment
Be seen for common conditions without waiting for a doctor's appointment.
Free NHS consultation
The Pharmacy First consultation is funded by the NHS — no charge to you.
Open late & weekends
Extended hours in Timperley, Altrincham — convenient for Manchester and the North West.
How it works
Three simple steps
Walk in or get in touch
No appointment or referral is needed for the seven conditions — contact us or come in.
Private consultation
The pharmacist assesses your symptoms confidentially in a private consultation room.
Advice & NHS treatment
You get advice and, where clinically appropriate, NHS treatment — or a referral if you need a GP.
What is NHS Pharmacy First?
Pharmacy First is an NHS service that lets community pharmacists assess and, where appropriate, treat seven common conditions that previously needed a GP. For these conditions you can come straight to the pharmacy — no appointment or referral required — and the pharmacist can supply NHS treatment, including antibiotics or antivirals, when it is clinically appropriate, or refer you on if you need further care.
What happens during a Pharmacy First consultation
You will be seen by a GPhC-registered pharmacist in a private consultation room — no waiting area conversations, no clipboards in front of other customers. The pharmacist asks about your symptoms, any medicines you take, allergies and relevant medical history, and follows the NHS clinical pathway for your condition. For some conditions they may examine you — for example, looking inside the ear for earache. They then explain whether NHS treatment is appropriate, supply it on the spot where it is, or refer you to a GP or other care when that is the safer option. Most consultations take 10–15 minutes.
Pharmacy First, A&E or 999 — what's right for what
Pharmacy First is for the seven common conditions listed on this site, when symptoms are not severe. For anything more urgent, please choose the right route: call 999 or go to A&E for life-threatening emergencies, severe difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe bleeding or loss of consciousness. Call NHS 111 for urgent help that is not life-threatening, or when you are unsure where to go. For routine ongoing problems your GP is still the right place. If you arrive at the pharmacy with something outside the seven conditions, the pharmacist will still help you find the right next step.
Our pharmacists
Our consultations are carried out by pharmacists who are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and trained to deliver NHS Pharmacy First. They follow the national NHS clinical pathways and refer to a GP or urgent care whenever that is the safer choice for you.
Serving Timperley, Altrincham, Manchester and beyond
Based at 250 Stockport Road in Timperley, we welcome patients from Altrincham, Sale, Hale, Bowdon, Brooklands, Wythenshawe, Cheadle, Stretford and across Trafford and Greater Manchester. With extended hours including late evenings and weekends, NHS Pharmacy First at Timperley Late Night Pharmacy is one of the most convenient ways to be seen quickly across the North West.
The 7 conditions
What we can treat under Pharmacy First
Sinusitis
Age 12 and overBlocked, painful sinuses, facial pressure and a runny or congested nose.
Free NHS serviceSore Throat
Age 5 and overA painful, scratchy throat that may make swallowing uncomfortable.
Free NHS serviceEarache (Acute Otitis Media)
Age 1 to 17Ear pain and middle-ear infection, common in children.
Free NHS serviceInfected Insect Bites
Age 1 and overAn insect bite or sting that has become infected.
Free NHS serviceImpetigo
Age 1 and overA common, contagious bacterial skin infection with crusty sores.
Free NHS serviceShingles
Age 18 and overA painful rash caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus.
Free NHS serviceUrinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Women aged 16 to 64An uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in women.
More NHS services
Other free NHS help — no GP needed
NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service
Free NHS service — no prescription charge for the pill suppliedStart, continue or change your contraceptive pill — free, with no GP appointment.
Free NHS serviceEmergency Contraception
Free NHS service — no prescription chargeFree NHS emergency contraception (the 'morning after' option) — act quickly for the best chance it works.
Free NHS serviceNHS Blood Pressure Check Service
Free NHS serviceA free NHS blood pressure check for adults — catch high blood pressure early.
NHS 111Emergency medicine supply
NHS 111Run out of a regular prescription? Use NHS 111 to arrange an emergency supply through a pharmacy.
Quick answers
Common questions
Is the Pharmacy First consultation really free?
Yes — the consultation itself is funded by the NHS, so there is no charge for it. If treatment is supplied, normal NHS prescription charges and exemptions apply, the same as at a GP.
Do I need an appointment for Pharmacy First?
No. For the seven conditions you can walk in or contact the pharmacy directly. A referral from your GP or NHS 111 is not required.
Can children use NHS Pharmacy First?
Yes, within the age range for each condition — for example earache is for ages 1 to 17 and sore throat from age 5. If a child is not eligible the pharmacist will still advise and refer if needed.
What happens if the pharmacist can't treat me?
You will not be turned away without guidance. The pharmacist will explain whether self-care is appropriate, point you to a GP, NHS 111 or urgent care, and help you find the right next step.
Visit us
Find Timperley Late Night Pharmacy
Ready to be seen?
Book an appointment or send us a question — no GP referral needed for the seven conditions.
Book an appointment