Medicines in Sefton 

This section has a range of useful information on the advice and treatments available from your local chemist along with some information about our medicines services and recent campaigns.

Care at the Chemist

A number of pharmacies offer the Care at the Chemist service and you find a list here.

This scheme is the quickest and easiest way to get advice and treatment from a health professional for a wide range of everyday illnesses and ailments – without even setting foot in your doctor’s surgery or needing an appointment.

Ordering repeat prescriptions

Repeat prescriptions allow you to order any regular medication you take more easily, without having to make an appointment with your doctor every time you need more.

Self care and over the counter medicines

In line with national guidance, we have a CCG policy listing those over the counter medicines that are no longer recommended to be routinely prescribed by GPs, nurses or pharmacists. You will see there are some exceptions included in the policy and our more vulnerable patients are reminded to use our Care at the Chemist service. 

Keep antibiotics working

We are working with Public Health England and Sefton Council to keep antibiotics working by only prescribing them when they are needed and reminding people that taking them regularly can lead to them not working at all. 

Advice from your community pharmacy 

Every day about 1.6 million people visit a pharmacy in England. As qualified healthcare professionals, community pharmacists can offer advice and over the counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.

The traditional role of the community pharmacist as the healthcare professional who dispense prescriptions written by doctors has changed. In recent years community pharmacists have been developing clinical services in addition to the traditional dispensing role to allow better integration and team working with the rest of the NHS.

Community pharmacies are situated in high street locations, in neighbourhood centres, in supermarkets and in the heart of the most deprived communities. Many are open long hours and at weekends when other health care professionals are unavailable and you don't need an appointment – you can just walk in. Most pharmacies also have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

You can find your nearest pharmacy here

About our medicines management team 

Much of our work in this area is led by our award winning medicines management team. You can find out more here about the team.