NHS 111
For urgent advice, the right service for your symptoms, or out-of-hours help. Available 24/7.
NHS Pharmacy First · Alfreton, Derbyshire
Free NHS help for seven common conditions, no GP appointment needed.
Under NHS Pharmacy First, our pharmacist can assess and, where clinically appropriate, treat seven everyday conditions on the spot. Walk in during opening hours — no booking, no charge for eligible NHS patients.
Start here
What's going on?
Pick what's closest to how you feel. We'll show you what we can do at the pharmacy under NHS Pharmacy First, the age range that applies, the red-flag symptoms that mean you should escalate to NHS 111 or 999 instead, and what to do next.
This page is a routing tool, not medical advice. If you are unsure, please walk in or call us and our team will help.
What Pharmacy First is
NHS clinical care, at the pharmacy counter.
NHS Pharmacy First lets community pharmacists assess and treat seven common conditions without you needing to see a GP first. For the conditions on the list, we can take a history, examine where appropriate, and supply medication (including some antibiotics) where it is the right thing to do.
It is the NHS service that has shifted the simpler, faster bits of primary care into pharmacies — freeing up GP appointments for more complex problems, and getting you treated the same day for things that would otherwise mean waiting.
For NHS-eligible patients, the consultation and any medication supplied under Pharmacy First are free, the same as an NHS prescription from a GP.
When to skip the pharmacy
Some things need a different door.
Pharmacy First is right for many everyday illnesses, but not for emergencies or things outside the list. If your situation is more serious or does not match a Pharmacy First condition, please use the appropriate NHS route.
Your GP
For ongoing conditions, mental-health concerns, or anything not covered by Pharmacy First. Same-day, telephone or routine appointments depending on the issue.
999
For life-threatening emergencies: difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe bleeding, signs of stroke, severe allergic reaction, sudden severe headache.
Common questions
Pharmacy First FAQ.
What is NHS Pharmacy First?
NHS Pharmacy First is an NHS service that lets community pharmacists assess and, where clinically appropriate, treat seven common conditions without a GP appointment. The consultation and any medication supplied under the service are free for eligible NHS patients.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Pharmacy First is walk-in. Pop in during opening hours and ask to speak to the pharmacist. If we are busy you may need to wait a few minutes, but you do not need to book.
Is it really free?
Yes, for NHS-eligible patients. The pharmacist consultation is free, and if you are treated under the service the medication is supplied free as well, the same as an NHS prescription from a GP.
When should I call NHS 111 or 999 instead?
Call NHS 111 for urgent advice when you are not sure what to do, when symptoms are getting worse, or when something does not fit Pharmacy First. Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies: difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe bleeding, signs of stroke, severe allergic reaction, or sudden severe headache.
What if my condition is not on the Pharmacy First list?
Our team can still help with general over-the-counter advice and many self-care needs, even outside Pharmacy First. If we cannot help, we signpost you to NHS 111, your GP, or a sexual-health, dental or eye service where appropriate.
Where are you and which areas do you cover?
Medicine Stop is a walk-in NHS pharmacy on Church Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7BD. We see patients from across Alfreton and the wider Amber Valley area, including Somercotes, Riddings, Swanwick, Ripley and South Normanton.
Got the issue? Got the time? Walk in.
NHS Pharmacy First for Alfreton, Somercotes, Riddings, Swanwick, Ripley and the wider Amber Valley. Free for eligible NHS patients.