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Free* remote consultation and treatment service for Shingles
We offer free advice and NHS-funded treatment for shingles to eligible patients through the NHS Pharmacy First Service in England. Book your appointment online.
Do you have symptoms suggestive of a shingles infection? Getting an antiviral treatment in the early stages of the shingles infection can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.
Who can access advice and treatment for shingles through the Free NHS Pharmacy First Service?
*The NHS Pharmacy First Service is offered by participating pharmacies in England. It is designed to offer health advice and treatments for several common conditions in England. Shingles is one of the six health conditions included in the Pharmacy First service that we offer as an NHS online Pharmacy.
The age limit for this service is 18 years and over. The pharmacy team will assess your eligibility for the free NHS Pharmacy First Service. If you are not eligible, the pharmacy team may recommend a private service/treatment or sign-post you to another health service provider.
What is shingles?
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. When an individual is infected with chickenpox, the virus stays in their body in an inactive form. The inactive virus can become activated due several reasons, causing shingles.
The virus that causes chickenpox and later becomes reactivated to cause shingles is called the varicella-zoster virus.
What are the Main Symptoms of shingles?
It is important to recognise the signs and symptoms of shingles and start a treatment course.
The initial signs of shingles include:
- Painful feeling in an area of the skin
- Having a headache or feeling unwell
The rash usually appears a few days later. The rash occurs most commonly on the chest or tummy but it can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, eyes and genitals
The rash usually develops on one side of the body.
What are the available treatments for shingles through the Pharmacy First Service?
Your symptoms will be assessed by one of the pharmacists during a remote consultation. You may be offered treatment through the Pharmacy First Service if it is clinically appropriate and you are eligible under this service.
Antiviral tablets - tablets for the treatment of shingles (herpes zoster) infection
*If you are issued a prescription medicine, you will pay the standard NHS prescription charge unless you’re eligible for free prescriptions. Any prescription treatment offered through this service will be delivered to your address by post.
If the pharmacist is unable to offer treatment through this service, they will recommend an alternative or sign-post you to another service.
Is the shingles advice and treatment service offered free of charge?
Shingles is one of the seven common health conditions that are included in the Free NHS Pharmacy First Service. The service has eligibility criteria for each condition. The pharmacy staff will assess your condition and inform you if you are eligible for the free NHS shingles advice and treatment service.
What is the Pharmacy First Service?
The Pharmacy First Service is an NHS service designed to offer free advice and treatments to eligible patients for several common conditions. Patients can access this service at participating pharmacies in England. The five additional conditions covered by this service include:
Think Pharmacy First for common conditions. Book your appointment to speak remotely with one of our pharmacists at Prescription Care Services.