Your local pharmacist (chemist) is your healthcare expert on the high street.

They provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common conditions and will be able to help you decide if you need to see a GP or other health service.

No appointment is needed, and many have separate consulting rooms for completely confidential advice.

Pharmacists can:

• dispense medicine on prescription
• dispense repeat prescriptions without the need to visit your GP
• give advice on treating common ailments like coughs and colds
• help you manage long-term conditions such as diabetes and asthma
• give advice on medication, including if you’re taking medicine for lots of different conditions
• give advice on staying healthy
• give sexual health and contraception advice
• provide treatments for common ailments like head lice and athlete’s foot.

Many also offer free emergency contraception including the morning after pill.