'Care at the Chemist' service offers healthcare help in Sefton

Sefton’s ‘Care at the Chemist’ scheme offers convenient healthcare advice and medicines for a wide range of illnesses and conditions and is available at 31 pharmacies in the borough. 

It means that, where appropriate, residents can go directly to their local pharmacy for expert advice and treatment for a wide variety of conditions, without needing to see their GP first.

The medicines are supplied free of charge for anyone who does not pay for their prescriptions. Those who do pay will be charged the current prescription charge, or lower if they are cheaper to buy over the counter.

Care at the Chemist also has a new extended service, providing treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs), better known as water infections, directly from local pharmacies without the need to be seen by a GP.

Women between the ages of 16 and 65 years who have symptoms of a common UTI, who are not pregnant or breastfeeding, can now access the treatment by visiting a participating pharmacy.

Susanne Lynch MBE, head of medicines management for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside in Sefton, said: “Our local pharmacists are fully trained and qualified to help you with a wide range of minor illnesses and common conditions. They are your local healthcare experts.

“In addition to the healthcare advice and support available from all pharmacies, it’s great that we can offer easier access to treatment for things like simple water infections and more, as part of the Care at the Chemist scheme.”

Dr Pete Chamberlain, local GP in Sefton said: “A lot of problems do not need a GP to resolve. Accessing help through the Care at the Chemist scheme means that you’ll get the right treatment faster and start feeling better sooner.

“GP practices are busier than ever, so if you have a common or minor illness, avoid the queues and visit a chemist near you to get help quickly and easily.”

The conditions that are covered by the scheme include common illnesses like coughs and colds, fever and headaches, as well as conditions such as conjunctivitis, scabies, thrush and allergies. The full list of conditions included in the scheme are below.

Residents in Sefton can drop into one of the 31 participating pharmacies who are signed up to the scheme and ask about joining Care at the Chemist. Those offering the extended service for UTIs are highlighted with an asterisk (*) and you can find the full list of pharmacies below:

South Sefton

Alexanders Pharmacy, Stuart Road, Crosby*

Asda Pharmacy, Aintree*

Asda Pharmacy, Strand Road, Bootle*

Bridge Road Chemist, Litherland*

Cohens Chemist, Bridge Road, Crosby*

Cohens Chemist, Marian Square, Bootle*

Davey’s Chemist, Randall Drive, Ford*

Higgins Pharmacy, Crosby Road North, Waterloo*

Knowsley Road Pharmacy, Bootle

Netherton Pharmacy, Gordon Youth Centre*

Rightdose Pharmacy, Liverpool Road South, Maghull*

Rowlands Pharmacy, Sefton Road, Litherland*

Station Road Pharmacy, Maghull*

Superdrug Pharmacy, Bootle Strand

Whitworth Chemist, Moore Street, Bootle*

Southport and Formby

Asda Pharmacy, Southport*

Bispham Road Pharmacy, Southport*

Cambridge Road Pharmacy, Churchtown*

Care+ Chemist, Banastre Road, Southport*

Crossens Pharmacy, Rufford Road, Southport*

Formby Health Rooms and Pharmacy, Liverpool Road

Fylde Road Pharmacy, Southport*

Hesketh Park, Queens Road, Southport*

Rowlands Pharmacy, Chapel Lane, Formby*

Rowlands Pharmacy, Liverpool Road, Birkdale*

Rowlands Pharmacy, Upper Aughton Road, Birkdale*

Sedem Pharmacy, Roe Lane, Churchtown*

St Marks Church Pharmacy, Southport*

Whitworth Chemist, Norwood Avenue, Southport*

Woolleys Internet Pharmacy, Bispham Road, Southport*