Find your nearest pharmacy
Looking for a pharmacy near me? Search 14,000+ pharmacies with late night opennings.
What pharmacy is open near me today?
We often get asked, “what pharmacy is open right now near me”? Use our chemist search tool to find your nearest pharmacy open today. You can use the search tool to find out your nearest pharmacy's opening and closing times.
Can you get prescriptions from any pharmacies near me?
Most community pharmacies in the UK are able to dispense private and NHS prescriptions. However, some pharmacies are licensed to dispense private prescriptions only.
Can a pharmacist diagnose me?
Pharmacists do not have the level of training that a doctor has had when it comes to diagnosis. They are able to diagnose you for common illnesses with recognisable symptoms and suggest treatments for you. Complicated ailments and illnesses, however, are something only a traditional GP can help with.
It is also important to note that, unlike doctors, pharmacists are not bound by an oath of confidentiality. So for more sensitive matters, you should speak to your GP instead.
Do I need to pay for prescriptions?
You pay for prescriptions unless you are exempt from doing so or buying medication for certain diagnosed conditions. You are entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you are one or more of the following:
-The age of 60 or over
-Are under 16
-You are 16-18 but are in full-time education
-You are or have been pregnant within the last 12 months and have a valid MatEX certificate
-Have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx) for a condition
-You have a physical disability that requires you to be in the are of another as well as have a valid MedEx certificate
-You have an up-to-date war pension exemption certificate
-You are an NHS inpatient
You can also receive free prescriptions if you or your partner are under the age of 20 and are receiving a form of benefit such as income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit.
Can I call a pharmacist for advice?
You can call your pharmacist and ask for advice and help whenever you want within their opening hours. Giving advice on medication and health care is part of their job. Pharmacists are very familiar with medicines and can often recommend you something for your condition. You can find out your local pharmacist's number with our pharmacy finder which gives you all the details on their service, including opening times, location and phone number.
Can I get medication or advice for another?
Of course! You are allowed to get over-the-counter medication for others whenever needed. If you are collecting prescriptions for people aged 16+ you will need their consent first to collect medication for them from a pharmacy.
You can do this with either a paper or electronic prescription which can be sent to your local pharmacy. You just need to fill out parts 2 and 3 of a prescription form, the person you are collecting fills out part 1. Usually a pharmacist won't ask for proof of identity but it is still best to have it on you. If you are picking up a controlled substance for someone, the pharmacist will ask you for proof of idenity; as well as confirming with the person you are collecting for.
Is pharmacy advice free?
You can ask your pharmacist for advice completely free of charge. The only time you have to pay is for medication or treatment to do with the topic you discussed with the pharmacist.
How much do prescriptions cost?
If you pay for your prescriptions and don't use an HC2 certificate or another NHS fee immunity, the current (as of 2022) prescription charge per item is £9.35. There are some medicines and treatments that are always free; these include medicines prescribed for hospital inpatients or contraceptives.
If you are getting repeat prescription, you can get a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC), which in the end could save you money. The certificates cost:
- a 3-month PPC costs £30.25
- a 12-month PPC is £108.10
What time does a pharmacy near me close?
Our pharmacy search tool displays a list of local pharmacies near you, including their name, phone number and what time they close.
Can you get the pill from a local pharmacy?
You can get the pill from local pharmacies. However, you will need to have a prescription in order to buy the pill from your local chemist. You can get an online consultation here to find the right contraception for you.
Can I get antibiotics without seeing a GP?
You are able to buy some antibiotics from your local pharmacist without the need for a GP's prescription. Though what you can buy is limited to treatment for lesser illnesses as most antibiotics require a prescription. Examples of what you can get antibiotics for the following conditions without a prescription are:
-Conjunctivitis (chloramphenicol)
-Impetigo (fucidic acid)
-Oral thrush (nystatin)
-Urinary Tract Infection (Nitrofurantoin)
How do I get emergency prescriptions?
If you have run out of medication and are in urgent need of a refill, as long as you have a prescription to the medication, you can do the following:
- You can head to your local pharmacy, or if it is closed, you can get your prescription from any other pharmacy. You can locate your local pharmacies with Welzo's pharamcy finder.
- You can call your GP surgery for urgently needed medication. If the surgery is shut, you might be able to leave a message on the anwser machine which will also expain their hours.
- Call NHS 111 if you need non emergency help. You should only do this if you can't access yout local pharmacy and if you arent in danger. NHS 111 can find out-of-hours pharmacies for you. You can also use Welzo's pharamcy finder to find local pharmacies, their hours and out-of-hours pharmacies around the clock. Walk in centres will need to do consulatations with you first before you are able to get a prescription. You can also get a consulsation here with Welzo; who has thousands of NHS trained doctors ready to help whenever you need it.
If the worst comes to the worst, and you are unable to obtain help from the services listed above, you can visit your nearest A&E. This is a last resort option when you are in real life-threatning danger.
How confidential are pharmacists?
While pharmacists are not bound to patient confidentiality they receive very little personal information from the doctor about you. Pharmacists do have a legal obligation not to disclouse infomation without your concent first. When your GP writes your prescription and sends it to your local pharmacy, the only infomation that they recieve is:
- Basic infomation about you
- The medication and its formualation
- How the medication is taken, and in what dose
- The quantity of the medication
The pharmacist does not recieve any infomation as to why you need the medication. Furthermore pharmacists are olbiged to be discreet with their medical assistance. This is a form of respect that they must uphold with you.
Can I get medicine out of hours?
Yes, you can get the medicine out of hours. If you have run out of your medicine when your GP is closed, you can still get a supply if it is an emergency. You can get an emergency top of your medication from a pharmacist. However they will need to assess the situation, they do this by asking you the following questions:
- If it is needed now?
- Who prescribed it to you previously?
- What is the dosage?
Assuming you can provide answers to all those questions, a pharmacist can prescribe up to 30 days of medication. They'll note down the incident and keep a record of your details as well. The only exceptions to this rule are if the prescribed medication is
- Insulin, cream or asthma treatments. They can only provide the smallest dose
- The pill. They will only provide enough for a full treatment cycle.
- Liquid oral antibiotics. They will only provide the small and shortest course of treatment.
Few controlled medicines can be given out in an emergency such as phenobarbital for epilepsy. Common controlled medication such as morphine cannot be given out without a prescription even in an emergency.
You might need to pay for the medication even if you don't usually because they're being provided without a prescription. This may vary between pharmacies.
Do I need to register at a pharmacy?
You do not need to register at your pharmacy. Your GP will send your information and prescription to your chosen pharmacy. The only time the pharmacy might ask for information from you is if you are buying controlled medicine or collecting for someone else.