Scottish Government

What are the range of services on offer?

Who is the service for?

Why is Pharmore being tested in only eight pharmacies?

Where are the eight test sites?

When can I use these services?

Do I need an appointment to use the walk-in services?

Do I need to be registered with a GP practice to use Pharmore?

Will I have to pay for these services?

How long is the test period and what happens after it ends?

Who is providing the Pharmore service?

Community pharmacies already offer a range of convenient healthcare services to the general public. We want to build on this by testing out some new walk-in services, which will provide the public with advice and treatment for some of the most common ailments and complaints.

In most such cases this should replace a visit to a GP practice or a busy Accident & Emergency Department.

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The walk-in services differ slightly at each of the eight test pharmacies. Generally, they are open for longer and provide services like nurse-led minor illness and injury treatment, sexual health advice and treatment, and simple diagnostic healthcare checks and tests.

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Pharmore is intended for the general public at every age. Commuters, in particular, may find it a lot more convenient, enabling them to pop into a participating pharmacy on the way to or from work, or even at lunchtime.

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The eight pharmacies involved were chosen by their NHS Board as the most suitable for testing this new service, based on local needs.

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The eight test sites are situated in convenient, central locations in Aberdeen, Airdrie, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.

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The opening times for Pharmore services are slightly different at each site. They are usually available during the pharmacy's normal opening times. However, some sites offer the service in the early morning, late evening and at weekends too.

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You can access most of the Pharmore services without an appointment. However, some test sites may use an appointment system to help manage demand and to ensure that those most in need of help are seen as quickly as possible. This is important where patients are referred by NHS24 for out of hours care.

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No, but you must be eligible for NHS services or be a national from within the European Economic Area.

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Like all NHS services, care is free at the point of delivery. Overseas visitors from outside of the European Economic Area may have to pay a charge or present relevant health insurance cover.

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The test period will run until March 2010. The new walk-in services will be evaluated during this period helping us to decide what happens next - for example, whether the types of services provided need to be changed or reshaped, or provided in another way.

The evaluation will also help us to decide which walk-in services could be introduced by other NHS Boards in other locations in the future.

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The local NHS Board in partnership with the community pharmacy is providing this service.

In the main, treatment and advice are provided by community pharmacists, nurse practitioners and other health professionals.

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