This page is to give advice and guidance to patients on how to manage their long-term conditions, how to deal with minor injury and illness that doesn't require treatment from a clinician and give patients advice on several topics.

Pharmacy First

Your local pharmacy can help with many everyday health problems, quickly and without an appointment. 

Pharmacy First is an NHS service that lets community pharmacists assess and treat a number of common conditions, including supplying prescription-only medicines such as antibiotics where clinically appropriate. It has three parts:

• Conditions: advice and treatment for seven common conditions (listed below).
• Minor Illness: a pharmacist can advise on minor illnesses and, if needed, point you to the right service.
• Urgent repeat medicines: in some cases, a pharmacist can supply your regular prescription medicine if you have run out unxpectedly.

The seven conditions pharmacists can treat

How to use the service

• Walk in to a pharmacy that offers Pharmacy First, or contact them by phone, for any of the seven conditions above.
• You do not need to see or phone the surgery first. If you do contact us about one of these conditions, our team may direct you to your pharmacy.
• The pharmacist will ask about your symptoms in a private consultation, give self-care advice, and supply treatment only if it is appropriate.
• If your condition needs more than the pharmacy can offer, they will refer you to a GP or other service.

More information: NHS England » Pharmacy First

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and self-care

Many minor, short-term conditions get better on their own or can be treated with medicines bought from a pharmacy or supermarket. Following NHS England guidance, GP practices are asked not to routinely prescribe medicines that are available to buy over the counter for minor conditions, such as:

• Coughs, colds and sore throats
• Mild hay fever and mild allergies
• Headaches, mild pain and fever
• Indigestion, heartburn, constipation and diarrhoea
• Mild dry skin, sunburn, athlete's foot and dandruff

Your pharmacist can recommend the most suitable product for you and can tell you if you need to see a doctor instead.

STOP SMOKING SERVICE

If you would like help to stop smoking, use the free service from West Northants Council. Click on the link above for more information.

HOW TO MAKE A REFERRAL

HELPLINE

0300 126 5700 

Option 1 for West Northants residents

West Northants Stop Smoking email

smokefree @westnorthants.gov.uk

 Click here to complete Self-Referral-Online form

Instructions Contact the West Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service

111 online is a fast and convenient alternative to the 111 phone service and provides an option for people who want to access 111 digitally. 

Your needs will be assessed and you will be given advice about whether you need:

• Treat yourself at home
• Go to a Primary Care Centre

If you need face to face medical attention you may be asked to attend a Primary Care Centre.

Click here to access NHS 111 online or call 111 to speak to a staff member.

FOOD BANK
EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTION POINTS

"Click Here"

to find your local distribution point

Food Bank — Restore Northampton

Food Aid Alliance West Northants – Allied Against Food Poverty