A number of medicines can be obtained free of charge at your local pharmacy under the Pharmacy First Service.  This includes treatments for:

• Acne
• Athlete's foot
• Diarrhoea
• Haemorrhoids
• Groin infection
• Headlice
• Threadworms
• Earwax
• Mouth ulcers
• Oral thrush
• Scabies
• Verrucae

Freeing up appointments about these symptoms would allow your GP to spend time tackling complex problems.

A free smoking cessation service with nicotine replacement therapy and support is provided by the local pharmacies.

Guidance from the Northern Ireland Department of Health (DoHNI) and the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) advises GPs not to prescribe medicines that can be purchased over-the-counter (OTC) by patients when they are being used to treat minor conditions or self-limiting illnesses.