Community pharmacists
Community pharmacists are also called chemists. They are experts in how to use medicine. They dispense prescriptions, sell over-the-counter medicines and can give advice and treatment for everyday health conditions.
Pharmacy First services
All community pharmacies have a qualified pharmacist who is registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
If you have an everyday health condition, you can use the Pharmacy First service to get advice and treatment from a local pharmacist, without waiting for an appointment to see your GP.
Many community pharmacies have longer opening hours including weekends and holidays, making them more accessible than a GP surgery.
You can call into the pharmacy for a private consultation with the pharmacist without needing to make an appointment.
You can use the Pharmacy First services for:
- everyday health conditions, such as diarrhoea, head lice, threadworms and thrush
- emergency hormonal contraception (the morning after pill)
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
A full list of conditions your pharmacy can help with is available at:
A map of pharmacies offering emergency hormonal contraception is available at the link below:
Before going to your GP, it is worth speaking to your pharmacist, who can then advise if you need to see the doctor.
Pharmacists can also give information about other local health services.
Getting medicines and advice on medication
Pharmacists dispense and supply medicines.
You can buy over-the-counter medicines (which don't need a prescription from your doctor) and get prescribed medicines from a pharmacy.
Your pharmacist can advise you on the most effective treatments and make sure that you aren't using an over-the-counter product that interacts with a prescription medicine.
Suitable patients may receive their regular medicines through the repeat dispensing service.
Repeat dispensing means the pharmacist can supply you with regular prescribed medicines for up to a year, without you contacting your GP practice each time you need a new supply.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you are suitable for the repeat dispensing service.
If you have medicines at home that you no longer need, or medicines that have past their use-by date, you should return these to any pharmacy where they can be disposed of safely.
Palliative care medicines
Palliative care is provided by all community pharmacies.
When patients or their carers need palliative care medicines, they are encouraged to use their regular pharmacy, in the first instance.
If you need palliative medicines urgently, you can contact a palliative care network pharmacy for the medication.
The pharmacies are spread throughout Northern Ireland.
More information is available at the link below:
Pharmacy opening hours
Many pharmacies in cities and larger towns, are usually open retail hours.
For other areas, there is a rota for pharmacy services for weekends and public holidays at the link below: