Community Pharmacy

There are 86 community pharmacies in Fife which provide a walk-in resource for help and advice on medicines and health.

Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you with health concerns. They are qualified healthcare professionals and 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.

If your symptoms suggest something more serious, the pharmacist can ensure you get the help you need and will tell you if you need to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional.

Search for your nearest pharmacy

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends and you can visit without an appointment. Most have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff in confidence.

All pharmacies in Fife provide the following core services:

Pharmacy First
Acute Medication Service – the dispensing of NHS prescriptions
Medication Care and Review
Public Health Service

NHS Pharmacy First Scotland

NHS Pharmacy First Scotland provides support for people living in Scotland, those registered with a Scottish GP Practice, residents in care homes and care settings, people who are experiencing homelessness and gypsy travellers.

If you have a minor illness, a pharmacy is the first place you should go for advice, and best of all, you usually do not even need an appointment.

You can now visit any community pharmacy to receive expert help in treating conditions such as sore throats, earache and cold sores, along with common clinical conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTI's). If the Pharmacy can’t resolve your issue, or if you require specialist assessment, they can also refer you to other healthcare teams if required.

Everyone who is registered with a GP practice in Scotland, or who lives in Scotland, is encouraged to use their local pharmacy when they have a minor illness or common condition. Using the service will help you access the right care in the right place, without having to go to their GP practice or local Accident and Emergency Department for non-urgent treatment.

Your local pharmacist can advise you about conditions, including:

A social media video explaining how the public can use Pharmacy First.

Acne
Allergies
Athlete's foot
Backache
Blocked or runny nose
Cold sores
Constipation
Cough
Cystitis (in women)
Diarrhoea
Earache
Eczema
Headache
Headlice
Haemorrhoids (piles)

Hay fever
Impetigo
Indigestion
Mouth ulcers
Pain
Period pain
Shingles
Some skin conditions such as cellulitis or insect bites
Sore throat
Threadworms
Thrush
Urinary tract infections (UTI's)
Verrucas
Warts

Your local pharmacist or a trained member of the pharmacy team will discuss your condition with you and can give you advice or medicine if needed. If you would like privacy, you can ask to use the pharmacy’s consultation room if you would prefer.

You can go to any pharmacy to buy medicines, collect prescriptions or use the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service.

You can find out more about NHS Pharmacy First Scotland by visiting:

https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/nhs-services/pharmacy/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland

A range of translated materials are also available by visiting:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland-information-patients/documents/

Serial Prescriptions

If you receive regular repeat prescription medicines, you may be eligible for a serial prescription. As part of Medicines Care and Review (MCR), this means that instead of ordering your medicines every one or two months, your GP will issue a long-term prescription which will last for 24, 48 or 56 weeks. You can then collect your medicines from your pharmacy every four or eight weeks.

You will no longer need to order from the GP practice and your medicines will be ready to collect from the pharmacy when you need them.

Find out more by asking at your pharmacy or GP practice and at https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/nhs-services/pharmacy/chronic-medication-service#overview.

Medicines: Care and Review

Medicines: Care and Review (MCR) allows patients with long-term conditions to receive medicines and pharmaceutical care from their pharmacy. Download a leaflet for further information.

Public Health Service

The Public Health Service (PHS) provides a health-promoting environment within the pharmacy - including promoting national health campaigns.

Within the pharmacy, this service also offers:

Sexual health service and Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC)
A stop smoking (smoking cessation) service
Gluten Free Foods Service (GFFS)
Access to prophylactic paracetamol for childhood vaccinations where appropriate

Additional Services

Community pharmacies may offer the following services and information:

Travel vaccination service (Find out more)
Buprenorphine
Care Homes
Domiciliary Oxygen
Injection Equipment Provision
Medicines Waste
Methadone
Naloxone Supply Service
Palliative Care
Rota Service
Stoma Service
Prescribed Sharps Service
Hepatitis C

For further information on when you should seek advice from your local pharmacy, download our Know Who To Turn To Leaflet.

Community Pharmacy

NHS Pharmacy First Scotland

Serial Prescriptions

Medicines: Care and Review

Public Health Service

Additional Services

Other pages in Pharmacy

Hospital Pharmacy - Acute Services

Primary Care Pharmacy

Always Bring Your Medicines and Compliance Aids into Hospital With You

Making the Best Use of Your Pharmacy

NHS Fife

Contact

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