Consult a doctor or Healthcare Professional online.

If you’re experiencing mild or common symptoms, your local pharmacy can offer fast, expert advice often without the need to see a GP.

Pharmacists are trained health professionals who can help with a wide range of minor health concerns, including:

Why Choose a Pharmacy?

Each year, around 50 million GP visits are made for minor issues like coughs, colds, mild eczema, and athlete’s foot. By going to your pharmacy instead, you can save time and avoid unnecessary hassle.

Your local pharmacist can assist with a variety of minor issues, including cuts, sprains, aches and pains, colds and flu, headaches, rashes, cystitis, emergency contraception (many pharmacies now offer this service), and other common conditions.

No appointment is needed, and most pharmacies are open late, on weekends, and even during public holidays, saving you the time of scheduling a GP appointment.

The New Medicine Service is available at pharmacies to provide additional support and advice when you’re starting a new medication for conditions such as:

Think Pharmacy First

Under the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, trained pharmacists can give advice and provide treatment for a range of minor conditions. In some cases, they can supply medicines on the NHS, saving you time and helping you get care quickly.

Why use Pharmacy First?

Treat Yourself Better

We encourage self-care for minor ailments like colds and flu.

The Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics website offers helpful information on how long symptoms may last, when to see a doctor, and when it’s best to visit your local pharmacist for advice.

Have you considered self-care? Many common illnesses, such as colds, flu, and minor injuries, can often be treated at home with a well-stocked medicine cabinet and plenty of rest. Some examples of conditions that can usually be managed on your own include:

There are a range of helpful self-care resources available that can guide you in treating your symptoms without needing to make an appointment. For more information, visit trusted sources like the NHS website:

Need help with your general health queries without asking your GP?

Exmoor Surgery’s new Digital AI Assistant GPChatbot, is here to assist you at anytime.

Access the GPChatbot on our website homepage.
Just click the chat icon on the bottom left of your screen and Aileen will be ready to help.

What Aileen can help you with:

Ask Aileen – AI Support Feature.

For anything else, just Ask Aileen.
She’s designed to answer your general health queries and guide you to the right support quickly and easily!

If you need medical advice or treatment, the Nurse Practitioner at our practice can usually assess your situation and, in some cases, arrange initial blood tests or other investigations before scheduling a follow-up appointment with your doctor.

Our Nurse Practitioner complement the care we offer to our patients. While a doctor’s appointment will always be available, choosing to see a Nurse Practitioner may allow you to get an appointment sooner.

You can see the Nurse Practitioner for a range of services, including:

Additionally, our Healthcare Assistants can assist with blood pressure checks, blood tests, diabetic foot checks, and general health checks. View our Nursing Team and Healthcare assistants here.

To book an appointment with a nurse, call the surgery at 020 3772 4996.

If you or someone you know is facing challenges with alcohol or drug use, support is available locally and confidentially. Addiction can affect anyone regardless of background and asking for help is a strong and courageous first step.

You can self-refer to access professional support and resources directly:

Telephone: 0800 0147 440

Address: 66 Lupus Street, SW1V 3EQ

Website: https://www.changegrowlive.org/service/the-alcohol-service

Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection that affects the skin on your feet. It can cause itching, redness, flaking, or cracked skin, usually between the toes. While it’s not usually serious, it can be uncomfortable and is easily spread.

When to See a Pharmacist

Your local pharmacist can help by:

A pharmacist can help with earwax build-up.

Speak to a pharmacist about earwax build-up. They can give advice and suggest treatments.

They might recommend chemical drop’s to dissolve the earwax. The earwax should fall out on its own or dissolve after about a week.

Do not use drops if you have a hole in your eardrum (a perforated eardrum).

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, struggling with emotional challenges, or just need someone to talk to, professional counselling support is available to you. You can self-refer to access one-on-one counselling services to help guide you through difficult times.

You can self-refer to access professional support and resources directly:

Email:[email protected]

Telephone: 020 3317 4200

Cold sores are common and usually clear up on their own within 7–10 days. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus and often start with a tingling or burning sensation before a blister appears around the mouth.

When to See a Pharmacist:

You don’t always need to see a doctor for cold sores.

Your local pharmacist can help by:

Pharmacists are trained to provide safe, effective treatment. They’re often the best first point of contact.

When to Contact a GP

You should seek further advice from a GP if:

For dental emergencies, contact your registered dentist. You will likely hear a recorded message with details on emergency cover arrangements. If you are not yet registered with a dentist, try to register as soon as possible. Dentists can assess your condition and provide advice on necessary treatment, including the use of antibiotics if needed.

If you need urgent dental care, contact NHS 111.
Dental emergencies include severe dental pain, facial or oral swelling, bleeding from the mouth, or trauma.

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, causing symptoms like sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, and a sore throat. It’s common, especially in spring and summer, and while it’s not usually serious, it can be uncomfortable and affect daily life.

You don’t always need to see a doctor for hay fever.

Your local pharmacist can help by:

No matter what eye issue you’re experiencing, your first step should be to visit an optometrist. They are the best professionals to evaluate urgent eye concerns, check for eye disorders, and treat various eye conditions. With their specialized training and equipment, optometrists can assess most eye problems effectively.

If your optician is closed and you can’t wait until it reopens, call 111 for advice.
In the case of an eye injury requiring urgent emergency treatment, go to your nearest Accident and Emergency department.

If you or someone you know requires assistance with everyday tasks due to illness or disability, this website provides information on the available options and how to access support.

Here at Exmoor Surgery, Nilesha Ravindrakumar is the Social Prescriber Link Worker.

Social prescribers are specially trained professionals who work alongside healthcare providers to help patients address non-medical issues that may affect their well-being, such as loneliness, financial problems, housing concerns, or difficulty accessing community services. By connecting patients with local resources, support groups, and services, social prescribers empower individuals to take control of their health and improve their quality of life.

If you would like an appointment with our social prescriber, please don’t hesitate and give the practice a ring on 020 3772 4996.

The John Hunter Sexual Health Clinic provides confidential sexual health services for individuals of all ages. It offers a range of services, including testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Thrush (vaginal ), Contraception advice, HIV testing, and support for those living with HIV. The clinic is staffed by experienced professionals who can provide guidance on sexual health, relationship advice, and offer preventative care.

Visit The John Hunter Sexual Health Clinic At:

• 3rd Floor St Stephen’s Centre (Next to Chelsea & Westminster Hospital) 369 Fulham Road
• London
• SW10 9NH
• Phone: 020 3315 4040

Sexual Health services that you can self-refer to for advice, help and treatment:

Head lice are common, especially in children, and are not usually a sign of poor hygiene. They can be uncomfortable and cause itching, but they are not dangerous and can be treated easily.

When to See a Pharmacist

You don’t always need to see a doctor for head lice.

Your local pharmacist can help by:

A GP Access Hub is a GP practice that provides evening and weekend appointments for patients registered with other practices in the area.

If patients are unable to secure an appointment with their own practice within 48 hours or need to see a GP outside of normal hours, they will be automatically offered an appointment at their nearest GP Access Hub.

When our GP practice is fully booked, we may arrange an appointment for you at the K&W PCN GP Access Hub.

The GP Hub offers appointments during weekday evenings, weekends, and bank holidays:

To book an appointment at the K&W PCN GP Access Hub, please ask the GP receptionist, or you can call NHS 111, who can also arrange an appointment for you.

The K&W PCN GP Access Hub is located at:

The Ellis Practice, 113 Chalkhill Road, Wembley, HA9 9FX.

For more information, please watch the video down below.

You can self-refer to the K&W Musculoskeletal Service (IMS) for physiotherapy by either calling or using the online self-referral button below.

How to self-refer:

• Call 020 3315 8404
• Click the self-referral button on the Connect Health website

Who can self-refer?
Patients with musculoskeletal conditions or those who meet the criteria for self-referral.

What does the service offer?

• A comprehensive assessment
• A personal management plan
• Treatment in a community setting

Please note, the condition’s excluded from self-referral:

Call 111.

Call 111 when our surgery is closed to speak to an NHS professional about any urgent health or medical concerns.

Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.

Out of Hours – further information
In Kensington,Chelsea & Westminster, the GP Out of Hours service is accessible through the national NHS 111 call line, and it does not offer “walk-in” appointments.

Urgent Care Centre
Urgent treatment center’s provide care for situations that require medical attention but are not life-threatening. The NHS offers a combination of walk-in center’s, urgent care centers, minor injury units, and urgent treatment center’s, each with varying levels of service.

If you have an emergency, please call 999. Medical emergencies may include:

Please reserve A&E for serious injuries and major emergencies.

The podiatry service is available to individuals of all ages with foot or lower limb issues. We can assess, diagnose, and manage foot and leg problems to reduce pain, prevent the worsening of chronic conditions, and improve mobility. Please note, however, that we do not offer basic nail cutting services.

Can’t return it? Don’t worry! Scan it and email it to: [email protected]

Telephone: 0208 102 5555 – Option 0 (Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)

If you’ve been told you are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, the Pre-Diabetes NHS Education Programme can help you take control of your health and reduce your risk. Addiction can affect anyone regardless of background and asking for help is a strong and courageous first step.

You can self-refer to this programme and receive valuable education and support to manage your health.

You can refer yourself directly to NHS maternity services to begin your pregnancy care with a midwife.

You do not usually need to see a GP first. If you’re registered with a GP, they’ll be informed about your pregnancy after your first midwife appointment.

If you have a long-term health condition or are taking regular medication, you should still complete a self-referral but also see your GP or specialist. This is so they can review your care and discuss any changes to your medicine.

If you’ve had an accident and bleeding heavily, please dial 999 now or visit the nearest A&E centre URGENTLY.

Rectal problems, such as haemorrhoids (piles), itching, or discomfort, are common and can often be managed at home. Symptoms may include pain, bleeding after bowel movements, or irritation around the anus.

When to See a Pharmacist

You don’t always need to see a doctor for minor rectal problems.

Your local pharmacist can help by:

When to Contact a GP

You should contact your GP if:

Sunburn happens when your skin is damaged by too much exposure to the sun. It can be painful, cause redness, and sometimes lead to peeling. While it usually improves within a few days, repeated sunburn can increase the risk of skin cancer, so it’s important to protect your skin.

You don’t always need to see a doctor for sunburn.

Your local pharmacist can help by:

When to Contact a GP

You should seek medical advice if:

A stye is a small, red, painful lump on the edge of the eyelid, usually caused by a bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle or oil gland. They often improve on their own but can be uncomfortable.

When to See a Pharmacist or Optician

For mild styes, you can often get help from your local pharmacist or optician. They can:

When to Contact a GP

You should contact a GP if:

Threadworms (also called pinworms) are common intestinal parasites, especially in children. They cause itching around the bottom, disturbed sleep, and sometimes irritability. While uncomfortable, threadworms are usually not serious and can be treated effectively.

You don’t always need to see a doctor for threadworms.

Your local pharmacist can help by:

Giving advice on hygiene measures to prevent reinfection, such as:

Warts are small lumps on the skin caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). They are very common, usually harmless, and often go away on their own, but they can sometimes be bothersome or spread to other part’s of the body.

You don’t always need to see a doctor for warts.

Your local pharmacist can help by:

Verruca’s are a type of wart that usually appear on the soles of the feet. They can feel uncomfortable, especially when walking, and may look like small, rough growths with tiny black dot’s inside (caused by trapped blood vessels).

When to See a Pharmacist

You don’t always need to see a doctor for verruca’s.

Your local pharmacist can help by:

Patients who have complex or long-term health conditions may need to see a doctor for a more in-depth appointment. Call the practice on 020 3772 4996.

Alternatively, you can book an appointment through the NHS APP or by using our GP Chatbot Assistant Aileen, Now Available on our Homepage! Just return to the homepage, click the icon on the bottom left of your screen and Aileen is ready to assist,24/7!

If you require medical treatment or advice that doesn’t require a visit to A&E or an appointment, consider using your local minor injuries unit.

They can assist with a variety of conditions, including: