If you’re between 40 and 74 and live in the UK, you should have a health check which we can do at our pharmacy for a nominal charge.
The health check should take around 30 minutes. A healthcare professional, will ask you a series of simple questions about your lifestyle and family history. The check is nothing to worry about and you won’t be asked any embarrassing questions or need to remove clothing.
You can also expect:
The Health Check focuses on:
If you are over 65, you will also be told the signs of dementia to look out for.
After your blood pressure test, sugar level test and BMI results, the Pharmacist will be happy to offer lifestyle advice or suggest you visit your GP, if needed. They might offer ideas on how to:
At Bansals Pharmacy we can provide you with acne treatments, without having to visit the GP!
An allergy is when your body reacts to a substance it has become sensitive to. For example, dust, food, pollen, medication etc. Allergens in food and other substances cause your body to have an immune reaction. Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions. In the UK alone, around 13 million people suffer from hay fever. Although it usually begins during childhood/teenage years, you can get it at any age.
The symptoms of hay fever occur when a person has had an allergic reaction to pollen. Some of the symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, wheezing, coughing etc. As much as we can try to avoid pollen, unfortunately, sometimes it is just not avoidable. Particularly in the summer when there is naturally more pollen around, and we tend to spend more time outside.
While there is currently no cure for hay fever, there is a way you can relieve the symptoms, at least to a certain extent. A range of antihistamines are available at our pharmacy to help you prevent an allergic reaction from happening. There are tablets, nasal sprays and even products to help soothe symptoms, for example, sprays for itchy eyes. We also offer Fexofenadine (Telfast) which is a prescription strength antihistamine for those that suffer greatly from hay fever. After a quick consult with our pharmacist, you can purchase this from our store to help soothe any symptoms.
Please come in store and speak to our pharmacists about your options to relive your symptoms.
We keep a carefully selected range of alternative, natural, homeopathic and herbal medicines and are always glad to advise on what’s best for you.
We provide altitude sickness relief, pop in to speak to one of our pharmacists to get yours
A pharmacist is another health expert you can turn to for asthma advice and support and you usually don't need an appointment. As well as your GP or asthma nurse, your local pharmacist is another highly trained healthcare professional who can answer questions about your asthma. If you have any concerns about your asthma, you can just walk into our pharmacy and ask to see the pharmacist.
This is useful because:
Ask the pharmacist how to get the best from your asthma medicines. You can ask your pharmacist about the asthma medicines you've been prescribed. This is useful if you have concerns about things like side effects, using your inhaler, or your inhaler not working properly.
You can also ask about any over-the-counter medicines you're taking to help your asthma, such as anti-histamines for hay fever.
We can provide Salbutamol Inhalers without a prescription or needing to see your GP
Check your blood pressure
The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test.
All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years. Getting this done is easy and could save your life.
You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including at our pharmacies. If you've not been diagnosed with high blood pressure and would like to get yours checked, contact or visit one of our branches.
If we find any potential signs of high blood pressure, we will refer you to your GP for further investigation and treatment if appropriate.
A simple blood test can help reduce your risk from some of the most serious conditions that typically show NO symptoms at all.
Blood screening is a medical process in which blood is scanned to test for a particular disease or condition. Although this procedure may be done for variety of reasons, the most common include Hepatitis screenings, pregnancy screenings, and screenings for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). The use of a blood screenings may also be needed to check for things like Vitamin D levels and food intolerance.
It is known that food can cause many different types of reactions in the body. These may be evident in the skin (such as hives, rashes, itchiness, or swellings); the gut (such as reflux, vomiting, tummy pains, wind, diarrhoea, and constipation); when breathing (such as shortness of breath or a tight chest) or through generally feeling unwell. Some people put up with symptoms for years, which could get better if the foods causing these symptoms were cut out of the diet.
"Knowing what you're allergic to is key to managing your condition"
Finding out which foods are causing your symptoms can be straightforward for some people and incredibly tricky for others, dependent on what their symptoms are; how quickly the symptoms appear after eating a food; and which food (or foods) is causing a problem. We have partnered up with one of the largest independent providers of clinical laboratory diagnostic services in the UK. So that we provide our customers with the laboratory information required for diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders. Our blood screening service is painless, quick and carried out with the utmost discretion. The types of screenings offered at Bush Pharmacy are shown below, prices are heavily discounted with further discounts available on request. Please call us on 0208-7439254 or pop into the pharmacy for more information.
TESTS AVAILABLE
The Full STI test includes:
The Food Intolerance tests a complete intolerance profile including trees, weeds, grasses, moulds, animals as well as foods
Blood glucose tests, which can be conducted in our pharmacy through a simple blood test, measure the amount of glucose in your blood. Glucose is a simple sugar that provides energy for the body. The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach). When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it's broken down to produce energy. However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there's either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced doesn't work properly.
Although there are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is often linked to being overweight.
PCR swab testing for COVID-19 is the most accurate (close to 100%) testing method available for an active infection. Nasal / Throat swabs collected using BD dry swabs. The turnaround time is 72 hours. The actual test is carried out in a separate, dedicated medical laboratory.
We provide a range of testing for travel, have a look at our Covid-19 testing page for more information
We have our Chiropodist Marie, who provides services from our consulting room. Contact us on 01702 587500 to speak with Marie to book your appointment
We recommend that all adults should get a cholesterol check – no matter what your age or how healthy you feel.
Your cholesterol levels depend on your genes as well as your lifestyle, so the only way to know your cholesterol numbers is to get a check.
You can have your cholesterol tested in our pharmacy using a simple blood test. This is often a finger prick test, it’s quick, you only feel a small pinch, and the results can be checked there and then. Or, you might have a small blood sample taken from your arm using a needle and syringe, you will get the result immediately.
Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS)
We stock a range of cosmetics, such as Rimmel and Max Factor. We also stock ranges such as Bondi Sands, Sally Hansen, Cocoa Brown and many more!
We provide lateral flow test kits
We offer a wide range of the latest dental care products and accessories to help keep your gums and teeth in tip top condition. Please call or visit.
A member of our trained Pharmacy team will preform a HbA1c Diabetes Test. This test measures the recent average blood sugar (glucose) level. Because it is the average there is no need to fast and is more accurate than a simple blood glucose test. In order to preform the test a sample of blood will be taken from your thumb and is analysed in the Pharmacy. This normally takes 10 minutes to process. You will then be informed of the result and we can discuss any lifestyle changes required or refer you to your GP if necessary.
We provide the Discharge Medicines Service. The service has been established to help you understand your medicines and any changes when you leave hospital and to reduce incidences of avoidable harm caused by medicines.
Prescription items such as Otomize ear spray, is just one of the things we can provide for an ear infection without needing to see your GP
No appointments needed, easily accessible location and just a quick consultation, we ensure a hassle free service to all our patients. Simply walk in and ask to speak to our friendly and professional pharmacist about the morning after pill.
Our pharmacist will need to see the person that the emergency contraception is intended for, and will need to ask a few questions regarding the patients’ medical history. This is done in the privacy of our consultation room and everything discussed is in complete confidence. The sooner you come to our pharmacy to take the morning after pill, the greater the chances of avoiding pregnancy.
If the Pharmacist feels like Levonelle One Step is not suitable for you, they will not give you the morning after pill, but advise you to see your health care professional.
We are one of the few pharmacies that are able to provide the morning after pill free of charge to patients who are aged 24 and under, and who meet the NHS criteria. Alternatively, the pill can be purchased privately from our pharmacy.
About Emergency Contraception (Levonelle One Step) -
When it comes to sex, even if you’ve taken precautions, sometimes things don’t quite go to plan. Accidents happen with contraception and things go wrong all the time. You may even just be worried that your contraceptive pill hasn’t worked. If you’ve had unprotected sex or you’re worried about contraception failure, here is some of the information you need to know about Levonelle One Step -
- Levonelle One Step is an emergency contraceptive that can be used within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex or if your contraceptive method has failed.
- There is one white tablet in the pack and it is most effective when taken within the first 12 hours
- The tablet contains a hormone called Levonorgestrel.
- Levonelle One Step is thought to work by stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg or by preventing sperm from fertilising any egg that may have already been released
- If you are over 16 you can get Levonelle One Step over the counter at our Pharmacy
- If you are under 16 you cannot buy Levonelle One Step at the Pharmacy, you need to visit your GP or a Walk-In centre
- Levonelle One Step works to prevent a pregnancy becoming established, it does not work if you are already pregnant
- You should only use Levonelle One Step in emergencies, not as a regular form of contraception
Please note, there are other emergency contraceptive options available through your doctor or at a Walk-In centre.
If you do have any questions or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you have had sex without using contraception, or you think your contraception has failed, you may be able to use Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC). Every consultation is private and confidential and will be in a private consultation room. Our fully trained and accredited Pharmacist will supply EHC when appropriate to clients in line with the requirements of a locally agreed Patient Group Direction (PGD).
The PGD will specify the age range of clients that are eligible for the service; it may facilitate supply to young persons under 16 in appropriate circumstances. We will also provide support and advice to clients accessing the service, including advice on the avoidance of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) through safer sex and condom use, advice on the use of regular contraceptive methods and provide onward signposting to services that provide long-term contraceptive methods and diagnosis and management of STI’s. * Only available if commissioned in accordance with a local agreement.
Erection problems (impotence) are very common, particularly in men over 40. It's usually nothing to worry about, but you should see a GP if it keeps happening.
Most men occasionally fail to get or keep an erection. Causes of erection problems can be stress, tiredness, anxiety or drinking too much alcohol, and it's nothing to worry about.
If it happens more often, it may be caused by physical or emotional problems.
Medicine such as sildenafil is often used by doctors to treat erectile dysfunction. It is also available from our pharmacy. You no longer need a prescription to get sildenafil. You can have a private consultation with our pharmacist to make sure it's safe for you to take it.
We can provide a Fit To Fly Test certificate within 24 hours. Guaranteed next-day results for £129 using Medicspot the UK's fastest fit to fly service. Order your Covid-19 test now and get your doctor fit to fly certificate in time for your flight.
We stock a range of perfumes please call or visit
Free Covid Tests for the vulnerable & elderly patients
Make life easier for yourself and let us order your prescription on your behalf. Simply let us know what repeat medicines you need, a few days before they run out and we will arrange to collect it from your Doctor's surgery.
Discover our huge range of gifts, jewellery, perfumes and greeting cards. Find the perfect gift for every occasion. We have gifts to suit any style or budget whether it’s for someone special, a birthday, Christmas or just because....
Is hair loss causing you distress? Are you worried about what to do? Losing your hair can greatly affect your confidence and self-esteem. It is an issue that affects both men and women, with male pattern baldness being the most common form. Most men are affected by male pattern baldness as they get older, but unfortunately, some men do start to suffer much earlier in life. But for both men and women even signs of slight thinning can cause concerns.
Whether you are dealing with hair loss, or even if you just want to get a head start to help ensure your hair stays healthy for as long as possible, we offer a range of products for both men and women. From vitamins and supplements to foams and shampoos, we even have products to help conceal thinning hair.
One of the main hair loss treatments we also offer is Finasteride (Propecia). Men who suffer from male pattern baldness are sensitive to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, which causes damage to hair follicles. Finasteride (Propecia) is a prescription strength treatment that reduces the level of this particular hormone, and in turn reverses any balding. If you think you could benefit from this treatment come in store today, and speak to our pharmacist for a quick consultation to see if the treatment is suitable for you. If it is, you should be able to take the medication away with you that day. Please note, the medication is chargeable and is for men only.
Always keep in mind that hair regrowth isn’t instant and takes time. Results may vary from person to person and in some cases products must be used continuously to maintain the effects. But the earlier you start helping to maintain normal healthy hair growth, the better.
If you are worried about hair loss then come in store today and speak to a pharmacist about your options. Our pharmacists are trained to make sure they have the right knowledge and skills in order to help you with any concerns you may have.
If you’re between 40 and 74 and live in the UK, you should have a health check which we can do at our pharmacy for a nominal charge.
The health check should take around 30 minutes. A healthcare professional, will ask you a series of simple questions about your lifestyle and family history. The check is nothing to worry about and you won’t be asked any embarrassing questions or need to remove clothing.
You can also expect:
The Health Check focuses on:
If you are over 65, you will also be told the signs of dementia to look out for.
After your blood pressure test, sugar level test and BMI results, the Pharmacist will be happy to offer lifestyle advice or suggest you visit your GP, if needed. They might offer ideas on how to:
Impetigo is a skin condition which is used by a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. Classic signs and symptoms of impetigo are red sores that rupture and then form a yellow-brown crust. The sores usually occur around the nose and mouth and can spread to other areas of the body by the fingers, clothing and towels.
Our Pharmacy is registered to prescribe for Impetigo. If you are an adult or have a child over 2 years with a minor impetigo the Pharmacist can examine the area and advise on the best treatment for your impetigo symptoms.
Prescription strength melatonin (Circadin ) to treat jet lag without a prescription
Every year many hundreds of travellers from the UK catch malaria and in tens of cases it is fatal. Symptoms can start rapidly. The correct anti-malarial medication is essential. We offer a Private Malaria Prevention Service. After a confidential assessment by a trained Pharmacist, the correct anti-malarial medication is supplied and appropriate advice given to the patient.
The Medication Care and Review (MCR) service, formerly known as CMS, is a serial prescription service. Register with Lightburn Pharmacy to have your regular repeat medication dispensed and ready for you to collect.
A serial prescription is a prescription for medicines you need to treat your long-term condition (your repeat medication).
It looks like a normal prescription but lasts for 24 or 48 weeks.
With a serial prescription, you can get your repeat medicines directly from the pharmacy where you are registered.
You won’t need to see or phone the Doctor to request your medication.
Serial prescriptions last for either 24 or 48 weeks and Lightburn Pharmacy will dispense it in instalments (either every month or every 2 months depending on your GP’s instructions).
The Pharmacy will have your prescription ready for you when you need it, so you don’t have to wait in the pharmacy.
The Pharmacy will keep your serial prescription in the Pharmacy.
Ask at the Pharmacy to be registered and speak to your GP to issue you with a serial prescription rather than a standard repeat prescription, your GP will assess your suitability.
Don’t be running around the houses to get your prescription, no more phoning your GP every month to get your prescriptions, no more waiting to get your regular prescription dispensed. Lightburn Pharmacy will comprehensively manage your serial prescriptions, please contact us to get registered today.
Your Prescription ready when you are.
This is an opportunity for our pharmacist to discuss and review the medicines you are taking to ensure you are using them correctly and getting the maximum benefit. We will explain clearly and simply, without any medical jargon, what they are for and the conditions they treat and identify any possible side effects that you may be experiencing. We will listen to you and any problems you are having with your medicines, provide advice and support and if necessary contact your Doctor to discuss any issues that arise from our conversation.
An MUR can help:
Our pharmacist may be able to conduct an MUR over the telephone or for eligible patient
Meningitis is passed from person to person who are in close contact via nasal or throat droplets, for example by coughing, sneezing or kissing. The meningitis ACWY vaccination protects you against infection from the A, C, W and Y types of bacteria.
How it is given: The meningitis ACWY vaccination is given by a single injection into the upper arm and protects against four different types of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease: A, C, W and Y.
How
long does it last? A booster dose is recommended after five years for those travellers who are at risk of the disease again. For Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, evidence of vaccination is required every five years for a visa application.
Side
effects: The ACWY vaccine can cause mild side effects, such as redness and swelling at the injection site and tiredness. Some people also report having a high temperature as a result of the injection.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common viral sexually transmitted infection in the UK.
HPV is transmitted by intimate contact, including sexual intercourse and unfortunately condoms do not prevent HPV infection. Most people who have HPV are unaware they have it.
There are over 100 strains of HPV and around 40 of them affect the genital region. Some strains cause genital warts and others increase the risk of cancer including cervical, vaginal and penile cancers.
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35 years of age and account forr 2% of cancers in all women. HPV leads to changes in the cells of the cervix causing cancerous changes to occur.
HPV infection is found in over 99% of cervical cancer and over 70% are due to HPV types 16 and 18.
HPV can also lead to warts in the genital and anal region, which can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. HPV types 6 and 11 are responsible for over 90% of genital and anal warts.
We can screen for the most important strains of HPV including the high risks strains associated with cancer. This is done via highly accurate DNA testing on a swab and we can discuss with you how to manage positive results, including vaccination, if appropriate.
HPV Vaccine
For more information and to make an appointment please go to: https://www.citydoc.org.uk/hpv-vaccine-gp/
Norethisterone to delay menstruation without seeing the GP
Prescription strength migraine treatment without having to see your GP
It is important that you take the right dose of your prescribed medicines at the right time each day to get the most from your medicines to control your condition(s) as much as possible. This can sometimes be difficult if you take more than one medicine. One way in which this can be made easier is for your medicines to be supplied in a Monitored Dosage System, which provides you with a separate compartment for each dosage time of the day.
A monitored dosage system (MDS) is a medication storage device designed to simplify the administration of solid oral dose medication, especially for those on multiple medications. It aims to address the issues of difficulty accessing medication due to sight impairment or other disability and/or forgetfulness.
MDS devices are usually a variation on the design of a box or a blister pack, divided into days of the week with several compartments per day to allow for the different timing of doses such as breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime.
Our Pharmacist can help identify which patients this type of system would be suitable for.
MDS may be suitable for patients in the following circumstances:
Ask a member of our pharmacy team about whether this service would benefit you or whether there is another course of action, which may be of more help.
You can have a free NHS flu Jab at our pharmacy:
• If you are 50 years of age or over before 31 March 2022
• If you are pregnant
• If you are a carer
If you have certain medical conditions including:
• Asthma
• Chronic Respiratory Disease
• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Kidney Disease
• Liver Disease
• Neurological Disease
A nebuliser is a drug delivery device used to administer medication in the form of a mist inhaled via a full-face mask or nasal cannula into the lungs. Nebulisers are used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, asthma, COPD and other respiratory diseases and disorders.
We stock a range of nebulisers to fit any budget. Please speak to our Pharmacist who can advise you.
When you are prescribed a new medicine by your doctor our pharmacists can offer support and advice to ensure you take the new medication as prescribed without suffering any unwanted side effects or explain any further questions you may have. We usually do this by keeping in contact with you during the first 4 weeks of your new medicine being prescribed.
The service is only available for people living in England, and only for those who have been prescribed a new medicine for the conditions listed:
The NMS can help:
We care about your long term health and if you are a smoker who wants to quit, but think you need help to kick the habit, our award winning Stop Smoking Service might be just what you are looking for. We have had many successes over the years and wish to help you kick the habit.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths accounting for more than 80,000 deaths each year. One in two smokers will die from a smoking related disease. If you could see the damage you would stop.
Circulation
When you smoke, the poisons from the tar in your cigarettes enter your blood. These poisons in your blood then:
Together these changes to your body when you smoke increase the chance of your arteries narrowing and clots forming which could lead to heart attack and stroke.
Stomach
Smokers have an increased chance of getting stomach cancer or ulcers. Smoking is a significant risk factor for developing kidney cancer and the more you smoke the greater the risk.
Skin
Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your skin. This means your skin ages more quickly and looks grey and dull. The toxins in your body also cause cellulite. Smoking prematurely ages your skin by between 10 and 20 years increasing wrinkling particularly around the eyes and mouth. The only way to prevent further deterioration is to stop smoking.
Bones
Smoking can cause your bones to become weak and brittle predisposing to brittle bones (osteoporosis).
Brain
Smokers are more likely to have a stroke than someone who doesn’t smoke. Within two years of stopping smoking your risk of stoke is reduced to half that of a smoker and within five years it will be the same as a non-smoker.
Lungs
Your lungs can be very badly affected by smoking. Coughs, colds, wheezing and asthma are just the start. Smoking can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia emphysema, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. You can slow down the progression of some of the diseases by stopping smoking.
Mouth and throat
Smoking causes unattractive problems such as bad breath and stained teeth and can cause gum disease and damage your taste.
Reproduction
Smoking can cause male impotence as it damages blood vessels that supply blood to the penis. It can also damage sperm and cause testicular cancer. For women smoking reduces fertility. One study estimated the fertility of smoking women was 72% of that of a non smoker. Smoking also increases the risk of cervical cancer. Smoking while pregnant can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and illness and increases cot death by 25%.
The good news is you can stop smoking and we are here to help.
We keep records of all your prescriptions dispensed by us as well as records of other services we provide to you. This helps us check for possible problems, such as reactions between medicines and will help us deal with any queries you may have. Our computer allows us to keep these records. We are registered with The Information Commissioners Office and comply with the Data Protection Act and the NHS code of practice on confidentiality. If you want to discuss the records we keep, please ask to speak to a member of staff or the pharmacist.
How can I delay my period?
There's no guaranteed way to delay your period, but it may be possible if you take the combined contraceptive pill. If you take a combined contraceptive pill, you can delay your period by taking 2 packets back-to-back.
How you do this will depend on which pill you take. Examples are:
Taking your contraceptive pills in the ways described above will not affect how they work as contraceptives. If you're not sure which pill you're on or which pills in the packet to miss out, speak to our pharmacist, community contraception clinic or GP.
Avoid taking more than 2 packs without a break, unless your GP says you can.
There's a risk you could experience side effects, such as:
Progestogen-only contraceptive pill
If you're taking a progestogen-only contraceptive pill, you cannot delay your period by taking 2 packets back-to-back. You may be able to switch to the combined contraceptive pill or take another medication to delay your period. If you're not sure which type of pill you're taking, speak to our pharmacist.
If you do not take a contraceptive pill
See your GP for advice if you want to delay your period and you're not taking the combined contraceptive pill.
After consultation our pharmacists are able to prescribe medication called norethisterone to delay your period, you will be advised you when to take norethisterone and for how long. You'll usually be prescribed 3 norethisterone tablets a day, starting 3 to 4 days before you expect your period to begin. Your period should arrive 2 to 3 days after you stop taking the medication. Please note, Norethisterone does not act as a contraceptive when used in this way, so you could still get pregnant. You'll need to use another type of contraceptive, such as a condom. Norethisterone may not be suitable if you have a history of blood clots.
How well it works in delaying periods also varies between women. Some women taking norethisterone have reported side effects, such as:
Switching to, or starting, the combined contraceptive pill
If you currently use another type of contraception, switching to the combined contraceptive pill will allow you to delay your period. You may also be able to start taking the combined pill if you do not already use contraception. You may need to start taking this pill several weeks before the time when you want to delay your period, and it's not suitable for everyone. If you're switching to or starting the combined contraceptive pill, you might need to use additional contraception during the first few days of taking it.
Ask our pharmacist for more information and advice.
We can help you when you are feeling unwell and you may be able to avoid a trip the doctor.
Pop in to have a quick consultation with our healthcare team who will be able to advise you and prescribe you with suitable treatment.
This service is free for patients who are exempt from a prescription charge. Patients who pay for their prescriptions get a free consultation and only need to pay a prescription charge for medication prescribed.
We offer treatment for the following conditions
Athletes foot
Vaginal thrush
Threadworm
Diarrhoea
Haemorrhoids
Fever/temperature
Sore throat
Earache
Toothache/dental pain
Teething pain
Headlice
Constipation
Insect bites & stings
Warts & Verrucas
Bacterial conjuctivitis
Hayfever
The person who the medication is for must be present in the pharmacy for medication to be prescribed.
A set formulary is used and only certain medication is given for the ailments
For anymore information give us a call and speak to our qualified healthcare team
We recommend you consider getting a flub jab If you don't qualify for an NHS vaccination but are:
This service is available on a walk in basis without an appointment and there is a charge but please call the pharmacy first.
We provide the pneumonia vaccine which protects you against pneumonia which is an infection that can cause serious illness and in some cases even death. It is more prevalent in colder months during Autumn and Winter and affects around 1 in 100 adults in the UK each year. Although associated with older and vulnerable people about 1 in 4 cases occur in adults under 65.
Pneumonia affects the lungs and can spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing.
Vaccination helps your immune system and provides long-lasting protection against pneumococcal pneumonia. We can administer the vaccine any time of year and it can help reduce your risk if you are travelling to a county which has a higher level of pneumococcal infections such as China or India.
We can give you a pneumonia vaccination at the same time as other vaccinations, such as the flu jab.
People aged 65 and over are also eligible for a free NHS pneumonia vaccination.
Contact us for more information.
We can provide a self check prostate personal screening kit which can detect for the early signs of possible prostate cancer by measuring the level of the protein Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in the blood.
Beginning in the early to mid 40s many adults may start to have problems seeing clearly reading, especially when working on a computer. Initially, you may need to hold reading materials further away to see them clearly. Print on newspapers or on restaurant menus may appear blurred, especially in dim lighting. This is caused by the eyes lens becoming less flexible with age and these changes will progress with time.
In the Pharmacy we stock a range of styles and strengths of reading glasses.
Beclometasone treament for your scalp for severe dermatitis, exzema or psoriasis
Antibiotic tonsillitis treatment without a prescription or seeing your GP
Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.In our pharmacy we can do a test for a sore throat and consult for water infection and give antibiotics if appropriate-saving you an appointment with the GP.
How to treat a sore throat yourself
To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts you can:
To help relieve the pain and discomfort of a sore throat you can:
You can buy them from our pharmacy without a prescription.
We provide a simple and reliable test to detect an infection of 'Helicobacter Pylori' which can be linked to stomach ulcers.
The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats we have ever faced, killing more than 8 million people a year around the world. According to the NHS, in the UK alone, smoking kills over 80,000 people every year and a further 500,000 people are admitted into hospital as a direct result of smoking.
Smoking has been linked to countless conditions from depression, infertility and asthma, to the more serious conditions such as lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease. It’s really not surprising that this is the case when you consider how many harmful substances there are in a cigarette. They have thousands of different chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic (cancer causing), and examples of others being acetone (used as nail polish remover), lead and cadmium (a highly toxic metal.)
The truth of the matter is, we all know how bad smoking is for our health, and a majority of smokers will say that they want to quit but giving up can be hard. Especially without the right help and support. That’s where our friendly and professional staff come in!
There is now more support than ever before, not just in the form of information, but also products designed to reduce cravings and to fight off any of the horrible withdrawal symptoms. One of the developments has been the introduction of Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT.) There are a variety of NRT products available:
Smoking is addictive because of the nicotine in cigarettes. That is why it is hard to quit. By starting one or even a combination of the above therapies, they will give a smoker a dose of nicotine in their blood. This reduces the nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings, whilst they break away from the psychological habit of smoking.
Our staff can advise you on the best way to kick your smoking habit. By coming in to our store our trained pharmacist will provide you with a free consultation, asking you questions such as how many cigarettes you smoke in a day and what triggers the need for a cigarette etc. By determining your ‘level of nicotine addiction’ the pharmacist will then be able to offer their advice on what they think would work best for you.
The pharmacist may even offer advice in other forms, for example, letting you know about any local support groups, advising you to take up a hobby or even suggesting a routine to start you off.
The benefit of having this support is that we are there 7 days a week whenever you need help, or even just a friendly professional to speak with. It is a proven fact that if you receive support while trying to stop smoking your chance for success is greatly increased.
We can provide a supervised consumption service, usually in the private consultation room in the pharmacy.
We can provide consultations over the phone.
Going abroad and need to know which vaccinations you require or need advice on precautions?
We provide travel consultations with experienced staff who will assess the impact of any pre-existing medical conditions on your vaccine requirements. Our competitive pricing and easily accessible location makes us your first choice for all your travel needs
Walk in for a free travel health consultation in our designated private consultation rooms today. We look forward to welcoming you and helping you with all your travel healthcare needs.
A pre-travel risk assessment provides a good opportunity to discuss travel-associated risk management with your pharmacist.
You'll need to contact us to arrange this, ideally 6 to 8 weeks before you leave. If your trip is sooner, contact us anyway as we may still be able to help and could provide vital health information.
During the assessment, we will:
Altitude Sickness - the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the negative health effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
Cholera – Common in Africa, Central America and Asia, cholera is an infection spread by bacteria in contaminated food and water.
Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis and Tetanus - This diphtheria, polio and tetanus vaccine may also be recommended if you're travelling to an area of the world where there is a high risk of contracting these diseases, or poor access to medical care, and you haven't had a booster in the last ten years.
Hepatitis A – Contaminated faecal matter spreads hepatitis A, a disease often caught via infected food and water and common across in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.
Hepatitis B – Unprotected sex is usually responsible for hepatitis A infection, along with sharing needles, visiting dirty tattoo parlours, unhygienic barbers shops and nail salons. It’s common in both undeveloped and developed countries.
Japanese Encephalitis – Spread by mosquitoes, there’s no cure for this disease found across South East Asia, Japan, and tropical regions of Australia. There are also occasional epidemics in China and India.
Malaria – A highly dangerous disease spread by infected mosquitoes, malaria is common in the equatorial tropics and subtropics.
Meningitis; ACWY Vaccination for Hajj or Umrah – A bacterial infection, this disease tends to be commonest in sub-Saharan Africa. But it’s also sometimes found where it’s crowded and where there’s imperfect hygiene, for example universities and army camps.
Rabies – Infected animal and human bites and scratches spread this awful disease, which is particularly common in Thailand, Brazil and India.
Tick-borne Encephalitis – A tick-borne virus found in eastern, northern and central Europe as well as eastern Russia, east Asia, China and Japan.
Typhoid – Bacteria are responsible for this infection and it’s found throughout the world, a risk wherever sanitation and hygiene are poor.
A urinary tract Infection (UTI) can occur in any part of your urinary system. Women are at greatest risk with symptoms including a burning feeling when you urinate, a frequent urge to urinate, even though little comes out when you do and pain in your back or lower abdomen. In addition your urine in often cloudy, dark, smelly and may have blood in it.
Our Pharmacy is registered to treat some Urinary Tract Infections without having to visit your GP. If you are a woman between 16 - 65 years old, have not had antibiotic treatment for a urinary tract infection in the last 28 days and have not had more than three previous urinary infections in the last year please speak to our Pharmacist. The Pharmacist will discuss your symptoms and whether you are eligible for treatment directly from the Pharmacy.
We provide a vaccination service and a range of vaccinations are available, please contact the pharmacy for further details.
We stock a popular range of vitamins and supplements aimed at nutrition, and women's and men's health.
We are here to help you make good choices. If you are struggling losing weight, please ask the pharmacist to help you beat the bulge.
The term obese describes a person who is very overweight. There are two ways of checking your weight status. Firstly, Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of whether you’re a healthy weight for your height. A BMI of > 25 means you are over-weight.
Another measure of excess fat is your waist circumference. Generally, men with a waist circumference of 94cm or more and women with a waist circumference of 80 cm or more are more likely to develop obesity related health problems. These include
Type 2 diabetes, Coronary heart disease, some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and bowel cancer and stroke. If you are worried about diabetes we can give you a diabetic test.
Obesity can also affect your quality of life and lead to psychological problems such as depression and low self-esteem. Please let us help you before your weight gets out of control.
We can offer weight management help. Pharmacists are ideally placed to help you manage your weight as they already provide many health services to customers, including stop smoking services, blood pressure and cholesterol measurements and general advice on nutrition and healthy living. Pharmacists also know when a weight problem can be managed in the pharmacy and when there is a medical problem that needs co-operation with the doctor.
Ask us for advice on how to get started.
If you’re between 40 and 74 and live in the UK, you should have a health check which we can do at our pharmacy for a nominal charge.
The health check should take around 30 minutes. A healthcare professional, will ask you a series of simple questions about your lifestyle and family history. The check is nothing to worry about and you won’t be asked any embarrassing questions or need to remove clothing.
You can also expect:
The Health Check focuses on:
If you are over 65, you will also be told the signs of dementia to look out for.
After your blood pressure test, sugar level test and BMI results, the Pharmacist will be happy to offer lifestyle advice or suggest you visit your GP, if needed. They might offer ideas on how to:
At Bansals Pharmacy we can provide you with acne treatments, without having to visit the GP!
An allergy is when your body reacts to a substance it has become sensitive to. For example, dust, food, pollen, medication etc. Allergens in food and other substances cause your body to have an immune reaction. Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions. In the UK alone, around 13 million people suffer from hay fever. Although it usually begins during childhood/teenage years, you can get it at any age.
The symptoms of hay fever occur when a person has had an allergic reaction to pollen. Some of the symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, wheezing, coughing etc. As much as we can try to avoid pollen, unfortunately, sometimes it is just not avoidable. Particularly in the summer when there is naturally more pollen around, and we tend to spend more time outside.
While there is currently no cure for hay fever, there is a way you can relieve the symptoms, at least to a certain extent. A range of antihistamines are available at our pharmacy to help you prevent an allergic reaction from happening. There are tablets, nasal sprays and even products to help soothe symptoms, for example, sprays for itchy eyes. We also offer Fexofenadine (Telfast) which is a prescription strength antihistamine for those that suffer greatly from hay fever. After a quick consult with our pharmacist, you can purchase this from our store to help soothe any symptoms.
Please come in store and speak to our pharmacists about your options to relive your symptoms.
We keep a carefully selected range of alternative, natural, homeopathic and herbal medicines and are always glad to advise on what’s best for you.
We provide altitude sickness relief, pop in to speak to one of our pharmacists to get yours
A pharmacist is another health expert you can turn to for asthma advice and support and you usually don't need an appointment. As well as your GP or asthma nurse, your local pharmacist is another highly trained healthcare professional who can answer questions about your asthma. If you have any concerns about your asthma, you can just walk into our pharmacy and ask to see the pharmacist.
This is useful because:
Ask the pharmacist how to get the best from your asthma medicines. You can ask your pharmacist about the asthma medicines you've been prescribed. This is useful if you have concerns about things like side effects, using your inhaler, or your inhaler not working properly.
You can also ask about any over-the-counter medicines you're taking to help your asthma, such as anti-histamines for hay fever.
We can provide Salbutamol Inhalers without a prescription or needing to see your GP
Check your blood pressure
The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test.
All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years. Getting this done is easy and could save your life.
You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including at our pharmacies. If you've not been diagnosed with high blood pressure and would like to get yours checked, contact or visit one of our branches.
If we find any potential signs of high blood pressure, we will refer you to your GP for further investigation and treatment if appropriate.
A simple blood test can help reduce your risk from some of the most serious conditions that typically show NO symptoms at all.
Blood screening is a medical process in which blood is scanned to test for a particular disease or condition. Although this procedure may be done for variety of reasons, the most common include Hepatitis screenings, pregnancy screenings, and screenings for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). The use of a blood screenings may also be needed to check for things like Vitamin D levels and food intolerance.
It is known that food can cause many different types of reactions in the body. These may be evident in the skin (such as hives, rashes, itchiness, or swellings); the gut (such as reflux, vomiting, tummy pains, wind, diarrhoea, and constipation); when breathing (such as shortness of breath or a tight chest) or through generally feeling unwell. Some people put up with symptoms for years, which could get better if the foods causing these symptoms were cut out of the diet.
"Knowing what you're allergic to is key to managing your condition"
Finding out which foods are causing your symptoms can be straightforward for some people and incredibly tricky for others, dependent on what their symptoms are; how quickly the symptoms appear after eating a food; and which food (or foods) is causing a problem. We have partnered up with one of the largest independent providers of clinical laboratory diagnostic services in the UK. So that we provide our customers with the laboratory information required for diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders. Our blood screening service is painless, quick and carried out with the utmost discretion. The types of screenings offered at Bush Pharmacy are shown below, prices are heavily discounted with further discounts available on request. Please call us on 0208-7439254 or pop into the pharmacy for more information.
TESTS AVAILABLE
The Full STI test includes:
The Food Intolerance tests a complete intolerance profile including trees, weeds, grasses, moulds, animals as well as foods
Blood glucose tests, which can be conducted in our pharmacy through a simple blood test, measure the amount of glucose in your blood. Glucose is a simple sugar that provides energy for the body. The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach). When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it's broken down to produce energy. However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there's either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced doesn't work properly.
Although there are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is often linked to being overweight.
PCR swab testing for COVID-19 is the most accurate (close to 100%) testing method available for an active infection. Nasal / Throat swabs collected using BD dry swabs. The turnaround time is 72 hours. The actual test is carried out in a separate, dedicated medical laboratory.
We provide a range of testing for travel, have a look at our Covid-19 testing page for more information
We have our Chiropodist Marie, who provides services from our consulting room. Contact us on 01702 587500 to speak with Marie to book your appointment
We recommend that all adults should get a cholesterol check – no matter what your age or how healthy you feel.
Your cholesterol levels depend on your genes as well as your lifestyle, so the only way to know your cholesterol numbers is to get a check.
You can have your cholesterol tested in our pharmacy using a simple blood test. This is often a finger prick test, it’s quick, you only feel a small pinch, and the results can be checked there and then. Or, you might have a small blood sample taken from your arm using a needle and syringe, you will get the result immediately.
Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS)
We stock a range of cosmetics, such as Rimmel and Max Factor. We also stock ranges such as Bondi Sands, Sally Hansen, Cocoa Brown and many more!
We provide lateral flow test kits
We offer a wide range of the latest dental care products and accessories to help keep your gums and teeth in tip top condition. Please call or visit.
A member of our trained Pharmacy team will preform a HbA1c Diabetes Test. This test measures the recent average blood sugar (glucose) level. Because it is the average there is no need to fast and is more accurate than a simple blood glucose test. In order to preform the test a sample of blood will be taken from your thumb and is analysed in the Pharmacy. This normally takes 10 minutes to process. You will then be informed of the result and we can discuss any lifestyle changes required or refer you to your GP if necessary.
We provide the Discharge Medicines Service. The service has been established to help you understand your medicines and any changes when you leave hospital and to reduce incidences of avoidable harm caused by medicines.
Prescription items such as Otomize ear spray, is just one of the things we can provide for an ear infection without needing to see your GP
No appointments needed, easily accessible location and just a quick consultation, we ensure a hassle free service to all our patients. Simply walk in and ask to speak to our friendly and professional pharmacist about the morning after pill.
Our pharmacist will need to see the person that the emergency contraception is intended for, and will need to ask a few questions regarding the patients’ medical history. This is done in the privacy of our consultation room and everything discussed is in complete confidence. The sooner you come to our pharmacy to take the morning after pill, the greater the chances of avoiding pregnancy.
If the Pharmacist feels like Levonelle One Step is not suitable for you, they will not give you the morning after pill, but advise you to see your health care professional.
We are one of the few pharmacies that are able to provide the morning after pill free of charge to patients who are aged 24 and under, and who meet the NHS criteria. Alternatively, the pill can be purchased privately from our pharmacy.
About Emergency Contraception (Levonelle One Step) -
When it comes to sex, even if you’ve taken precautions, sometimes things don’t quite go to plan. Accidents happen with contraception and things go wrong all the time. You may even just be worried that your contraceptive pill hasn’t worked. If you’ve had unprotected sex or you’re worried about contraception failure, here is some of the information you need to know about Levonelle One Step -
- Levonelle One Step is an emergency contraceptive that can be used within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex or if your contraceptive method has failed.
- There is one white tablet in the pack and it is most effective when taken within the first 12 hours
- The tablet contains a hormone called Levonorgestrel.
- Levonelle One Step is thought to work by stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg or by preventing sperm from fertilising any egg that may have already been released
- If you are over 16 you can get Levonelle One Step over the counter at our Pharmacy
- If you are under 16 you cannot buy Levonelle One Step at the Pharmacy, you need to visit your GP or a Walk-In centre
- Levonelle One Step works to prevent a pregnancy becoming established, it does not work if you are already pregnant
- You should only use Levonelle One Step in emergencies, not as a regular form of contraception
Please note, there are other emergency contraceptive options available through your doctor or at a Walk-In centre.
If you do have any questions or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you have had sex without using contraception, or you think your contraception has failed, you may be able to use Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC). Every consultation is private and confidential and will be in a private consultation room. Our fully trained and accredited Pharmacist will supply EHC when appropriate to clients in line with the requirements of a locally agreed Patient Group Direction (PGD).
The PGD will specify the age range of clients that are eligible for the service; it may facilitate supply to young persons under 16 in appropriate circumstances. We will also provide support and advice to clients accessing the service, including advice on the avoidance of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) through safer sex and condom use, advice on the use of regular contraceptive methods and provide onward signposting to services that provide long-term contraceptive methods and diagnosis and management of STI’s. * Only available if commissioned in accordance with a local agreement.
Erection problems (impotence) are very common, particularly in men over 40. It's usually nothing to worry about, but you should see a GP if it keeps happening.
Most men occasionally fail to get or keep an erection. Causes of erection problems can be stress, tiredness, anxiety or drinking too much alcohol, and it's nothing to worry about.
If it happens more often, it may be caused by physical or emotional problems.
Medicine such as sildenafil is often used by doctors to treat erectile dysfunction. It is also available from our pharmacy. You no longer need a prescription to get sildenafil. You can have a private consultation with our pharmacist to make sure it's safe for you to take it.
We can provide a Fit To Fly Test certificate within 24 hours. Guaranteed next-day results for £129 using Medicspot the UK's fastest fit to fly service. Order your Covid-19 test now and get your doctor fit to fly certificate in time for your flight.
We stock a range of perfumes please call or visit
Free Covid Tests for the vulnerable & elderly patients
Make life easier for yourself and let us order your prescription on your behalf. Simply let us know what repeat medicines you need, a few days before they run out and we will arrange to collect it from your Doctor's surgery.
Discover our huge range of gifts, jewellery, perfumes and greeting cards. Find the perfect gift for every occasion. We have gifts to suit any style or budget whether it’s for someone special, a birthday, Christmas or just because....
Is hair loss causing you distress? Are you worried about what to do? Losing your hair can greatly affect your confidence and self-esteem. It is an issue that affects both men and women, with male pattern baldness being the most common form. Most men are affected by male pattern baldness as they get older, but unfortunately, some men do start to suffer much earlier in life. But for both men and women even signs of slight thinning can cause concerns.
Whether you are dealing with hair loss, or even if you just want to get a head start to help ensure your hair stays healthy for as long as possible, we offer a range of products for both men and women. From vitamins and supplements to foams and shampoos, we even have products to help conceal thinning hair.
One of the main hair loss treatments we also offer is Finasteride (Propecia). Men who suffer from male pattern baldness are sensitive to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, which causes damage to hair follicles. Finasteride (Propecia) is a prescription strength treatment that reduces the level of this particular hormone, and in turn reverses any balding. If you think you could benefit from this treatment come in store today, and speak to our pharmacist for a quick consultation to see if the treatment is suitable for you. If it is, you should be able to take the medication away with you that day. Please note, the medication is chargeable and is for men only.
Always keep in mind that hair regrowth isn’t instant and takes time. Results may vary from person to person and in some cases products must be used continuously to maintain the effects. But the earlier you start helping to maintain normal healthy hair growth, the better.
If you are worried about hair loss then come in store today and speak to a pharmacist about your options. Our pharmacists are trained to make sure they have the right knowledge and skills in order to help you with any concerns you may have.
If you’re between 40 and 74 and live in the UK, you should have a health check which we can do at our pharmacy for a nominal charge.
The health check should take around 30 minutes. A healthcare professional, will ask you a series of simple questions about your lifestyle and family history. The check is nothing to worry about and you won’t be asked any embarrassing questions or need to remove clothing.
You can also expect:
The Health Check focuses on:
If you are over 65, you will also be told the signs of dementia to look out for.
After your blood pressure test, sugar level test and BMI results, the Pharmacist will be happy to offer lifestyle advice or suggest you visit your GP, if needed. They might offer ideas on how to:
Impetigo is a skin condition which is used by a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. Classic signs and symptoms of impetigo are red sores that rupture and then form a yellow-brown crust. The sores usually occur around the nose and mouth and can spread to other areas of the body by the fingers, clothing and towels.
Our Pharmacy is registered to prescribe for Impetigo. If you are an adult or have a child over 2 years with a minor impetigo the Pharmacist can examine the area and advise on the best treatment for your impetigo symptoms.
Prescription strength melatonin (Circadin ) to treat jet lag without a prescription
Every year many hundreds of travellers from the UK catch malaria and in tens of cases it is fatal. Symptoms can start rapidly. The correct anti-malarial medication is essential. We offer a Private Malaria Prevention Service. After a confidential assessment by a trained Pharmacist, the correct anti-malarial medication is supplied and appropriate advice given to the patient.
The Medication Care and Review (MCR) service, formerly known as CMS, is a serial prescription service. Register with Lightburn Pharmacy to have your regular repeat medication dispensed and ready for you to collect.
A serial prescription is a prescription for medicines you need to treat your long-term condition (your repeat medication).
It looks like a normal prescription but lasts for 24 or 48 weeks.
With a serial prescription, you can get your repeat medicines directly from the pharmacy where you are registered.
You won’t need to see or phone the Doctor to request your medication.
Serial prescriptions last for either 24 or 48 weeks and Lightburn Pharmacy will dispense it in instalments (either every month or every 2 months depending on your GP’s instructions).
The Pharmacy will have your prescription ready for you when you need it, so you don’t have to wait in the pharmacy.
The Pharmacy will keep your serial prescription in the Pharmacy.
Ask at the Pharmacy to be registered and speak to your GP to issue you with a serial prescription rather than a standard repeat prescription, your GP will assess your suitability.
Don’t be running around the houses to get your prescription, no more phoning your GP every month to get your prescriptions, no more waiting to get your regular prescription dispensed. Lightburn Pharmacy will comprehensively manage your serial prescriptions, please contact us to get registered today.
Your Prescription ready when you are.
This is an opportunity for our pharmacist to discuss and review the medicines you are taking to ensure you are using them correctly and getting the maximum benefit. We will explain clearly and simply, without any medical jargon, what they are for and the conditions they treat and identify any possible side effects that you may be experiencing. We will listen to you and any problems you are having with your medicines, provide advice and support and if necessary contact your Doctor to discuss any issues that arise from our conversation.
An MUR can help:
Our pharmacist may be able to conduct an MUR over the telephone or for eligible patient
Meningitis is passed from person to person who are in close contact via nasal or throat droplets, for example by coughing, sneezing or kissing. The meningitis ACWY vaccination protects you against infection from the A, C, W and Y types of bacteria.
How it is given: The meningitis ACWY vaccination is given by a single injection into the upper arm and protects against four different types of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease: A, C, W and Y.
How
long does it last? A booster dose is recommended after five years for those travellers who are at risk of the disease again. For Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, evidence of vaccination is required every five years for a visa application.
Side
effects: The ACWY vaccine can cause mild side effects, such as redness and swelling at the injection site and tiredness. Some people also report having a high temperature as a result of the injection.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common viral sexually transmitted infection in the UK.
HPV is transmitted by intimate contact, including sexual intercourse and unfortunately condoms do not prevent HPV infection. Most people who have HPV are unaware they have it.
There are over 100 strains of HPV and around 40 of them affect the genital region. Some strains cause genital warts and others increase the risk of cancer including cervical, vaginal and penile cancers.
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35 years of age and account forr 2% of cancers in all women. HPV leads to changes in the cells of the cervix causing cancerous changes to occur.
HPV infection is found in over 99% of cervical cancer and over 70% are due to HPV types 16 and 18.
HPV can also lead to warts in the genital and anal region, which can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. HPV types 6 and 11 are responsible for over 90% of genital and anal warts.
We can screen for the most important strains of HPV including the high risks strains associated with cancer. This is done via highly accurate DNA testing on a swab and we can discuss with you how to manage positive results, including vaccination, if appropriate.
HPV Vaccine
For more information and to make an appointment please go to: https://www.citydoc.org.uk/hpv-vaccine-gp/
Norethisterone to delay menstruation without seeing the GP
Prescription strength migraine treatment without having to see your GP
It is important that you take the right dose of your prescribed medicines at the right time each day to get the most from your medicines to control your condition(s) as much as possible. This can sometimes be difficult if you take more than one medicine. One way in which this can be made easier is for your medicines to be supplied in a Monitored Dosage System, which provides you with a separate compartment for each dosage time of the day.
A monitored dosage system (MDS) is a medication storage device designed to simplify the administration of solid oral dose medication, especially for those on multiple medications. It aims to address the issues of difficulty accessing medication due to sight impairment or other disability and/or forgetfulness.
MDS devices are usually a variation on the design of a box or a blister pack, divided into days of the week with several compartments per day to allow for the different timing of doses such as breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime.
Our Pharmacist can help identify which patients this type of system would be suitable for.
MDS may be suitable for patients in the following circumstances:
Ask a member of our pharmacy team about whether this service would benefit you or whether there is another course of action, which may be of more help.
You can have a free NHS flu Jab at our pharmacy:
• If you are 50 years of age or over before 31 March 2022
• If you are pregnant
• If you are a carer
If you have certain medical conditions including:
• Asthma
• Chronic Respiratory Disease
• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Kidney Disease
• Liver Disease
• Neurological Disease
A nebuliser is a drug delivery device used to administer medication in the form of a mist inhaled via a full-face mask or nasal cannula into the lungs. Nebulisers are used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, asthma, COPD and other respiratory diseases and disorders.
We stock a range of nebulisers to fit any budget. Please speak to our Pharmacist who can advise you.
When you are prescribed a new medicine by your doctor our pharmacists can offer support and advice to ensure you take the new medication as prescribed without suffering any unwanted side effects or explain any further questions you may have. We usually do this by keeping in contact with you during the first 4 weeks of your new medicine being prescribed.
The service is only available for people living in England, and only for those who have been prescribed a new medicine for the conditions listed:
The NMS can help:
We care about your long term health and if you are a smoker who wants to quit, but think you need help to kick the habit, our award winning Stop Smoking Service might be just what you are looking for. We have had many successes over the years and wish to help you kick the habit.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths accounting for more than 80,000 deaths each year. One in two smokers will die from a smoking related disease. If you could see the damage you would stop.
Circulation
When you smoke, the poisons from the tar in your cigarettes enter your blood. These poisons in your blood then:
Together these changes to your body when you smoke increase the chance of your arteries narrowing and clots forming which could lead to heart attack and stroke.
Stomach
Smokers have an increased chance of getting stomach cancer or ulcers. Smoking is a significant risk factor for developing kidney cancer and the more you smoke the greater the risk.
Skin
Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your skin. This means your skin ages more quickly and looks grey and dull. The toxins in your body also cause cellulite. Smoking prematurely ages your skin by between 10 and 20 years increasing wrinkling particularly around the eyes and mouth. The only way to prevent further deterioration is to stop smoking.
Bones
Smoking can cause your bones to become weak and brittle predisposing to brittle bones (osteoporosis).
Brain
Smokers are more likely to have a stroke than someone who doesn’t smoke. Within two years of stopping smoking your risk of stoke is reduced to half that of a smoker and within five years it will be the same as a non-smoker.
Lungs
Your lungs can be very badly affected by smoking. Coughs, colds, wheezing and asthma are just the start. Smoking can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia emphysema, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. You can slow down the progression of some of the diseases by stopping smoking.
Mouth and throat
Smoking causes unattractive problems such as bad breath and stained teeth and can cause gum disease and damage your taste.
Reproduction
Smoking can cause male impotence as it damages blood vessels that supply blood to the penis. It can also damage sperm and cause testicular cancer. For women smoking reduces fertility. One study estimated the fertility of smoking women was 72% of that of a non smoker. Smoking also increases the risk of cervical cancer. Smoking while pregnant can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and illness and increases cot death by 25%.
The good news is you can stop smoking and we are here to help.
We keep records of all your prescriptions dispensed by us as well as records of other services we provide to you. This helps us check for possible problems, such as reactions between medicines and will help us deal with any queries you may have. Our computer allows us to keep these records. We are registered with The Information Commissioners Office and comply with the Data Protection Act and the NHS code of practice on confidentiality. If you want to discuss the records we keep, please ask to speak to a member of staff or the pharmacist.
How can I delay my period?
There's no guaranteed way to delay your period, but it may be possible if you take the combined contraceptive pill. If you take a combined contraceptive pill, you can delay your period by taking 2 packets back-to-back.
How you do this will depend on which pill you take. Examples are:
Taking your contraceptive pills in the ways described above will not affect how they work as contraceptives. If you're not sure which pill you're on or which pills in the packet to miss out, speak to our pharmacist, community contraception clinic or GP.
Avoid taking more than 2 packs without a break, unless your GP says you can.
There's a risk you could experience side effects, such as:
Progestogen-only contraceptive pill
If you're taking a progestogen-only contraceptive pill, you cannot delay your period by taking 2 packets back-to-back. You may be able to switch to the combined contraceptive pill or take another medication to delay your period. If you're not sure which type of pill you're taking, speak to our pharmacist.
If you do not take a contraceptive pill
See your GP for advice if you want to delay your period and you're not taking the combined contraceptive pill.
After consultation our pharmacists are able to prescribe medication called norethisterone to delay your period, you will be advised you when to take norethisterone and for how long. You'll usually be prescribed 3 norethisterone tablets a day, starting 3 to 4 days before you expect your period to begin. Your period should arrive 2 to 3 days after you stop taking the medication. Please note, Norethisterone does not act as a contraceptive when used in this way, so you could still get pregnant. You'll need to use another type of contraceptive, such as a condom. Norethisterone may not be suitable if you have a history of blood clots.
How well it works in delaying periods also varies between women. Some women taking norethisterone have reported side effects, such as:
Switching to, or starting, the combined contraceptive pill
If you currently use another type of contraception, switching to the combined contraceptive pill will allow you to delay your period. You may also be able to start taking the combined pill if you do not already use contraception. You may need to start taking this pill several weeks before the time when you want to delay your period, and it's not suitable for everyone. If you're switching to or starting the combined contraceptive pill, you might need to use additional contraception during the first few days of taking it.
Ask our pharmacist for more information and advice.
We can help you when you are feeling unwell and you may be able to avoid a trip the doctor.
Pop in to have a quick consultation with our healthcare team who will be able to advise you and prescribe you with suitable treatment.
This service is free for patients who are exempt from a prescription charge. Patients who pay for their prescriptions get a free consultation and only need to pay a prescription charge for medication prescribed.
We offer treatment for the following conditions
Athletes foot
Vaginal thrush
Threadworm
Diarrhoea
Haemorrhoids
Fever/temperature
Sore throat
Earache
Toothache/dental pain
Teething pain
Headlice
Constipation
Insect bites & stings
Warts & Verrucas
Bacterial conjuctivitis
Hayfever
The person who the medication is for must be present in the pharmacy for medication to be prescribed.
A set formulary is used and only certain medication is given for the ailments
For anymore information give us a call and speak to our qualified healthcare team
We recommend you consider getting a flub jab If you don't qualify for an NHS vaccination but are:
This service is available on a walk in basis without an appointment and there is a charge but please call the pharmacy first.
We provide the pneumonia vaccine which protects you against pneumonia which is an infection that can cause serious illness and in some cases even death. It is more prevalent in colder months during Autumn and Winter and affects around 1 in 100 adults in the UK each year. Although associated with older and vulnerable people about 1 in 4 cases occur in adults under 65.
Pneumonia affects the lungs and can spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing.
Vaccination helps your immune system and provides long-lasting protection against pneumococcal pneumonia. We can administer the vaccine any time of year and it can help reduce your risk if you are travelling to a county which has a higher level of pneumococcal infections such as China or India.
We can give you a pneumonia vaccination at the same time as other vaccinations, such as the flu jab.
People aged 65 and over are also eligible for a free NHS pneumonia vaccination.
Contact us for more information.
We can provide a self check prostate personal screening kit which can detect for the early signs of possible prostate cancer by measuring the level of the protein Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in the blood.
Beginning in the early to mid 40s many adults may start to have problems seeing clearly reading, especially when working on a computer. Initially, you may need to hold reading materials further away to see them clearly. Print on newspapers or on restaurant menus may appear blurred, especially in dim lighting. This is caused by the eyes lens becoming less flexible with age and these changes will progress with time.
In the Pharmacy we stock a range of styles and strengths of reading glasses.
Beclometasone treament for your scalp for severe dermatitis, exzema or psoriasis
Antibiotic tonsillitis treatment without a prescription or seeing your GP
Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.In our pharmacy we can do a test for a sore throat and consult for water infection and give antibiotics if appropriate-saving you an appointment with the GP.
How to treat a sore throat yourself
To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts you can:
To help relieve the pain and discomfort of a sore throat you can:
You can buy them from our pharmacy without a prescription.
We provide a simple and reliable test to detect an infection of 'Helicobacter Pylori' which can be linked to stomach ulcers.
The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats we have ever faced, killing more than 8 million people a year around the world. According to the NHS, in the UK alone, smoking kills over 80,000 people every year and a further 500,000 people are admitted into hospital as a direct result of smoking.
Smoking has been linked to countless conditions from depression, infertility and asthma, to the more serious conditions such as lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease. It’s really not surprising that this is the case when you consider how many harmful substances there are in a cigarette. They have thousands of different chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic (cancer causing), and examples of others being acetone (used as nail polish remover), lead and cadmium (a highly toxic metal.)
The truth of the matter is, we all know how bad smoking is for our health, and a majority of smokers will say that they want to quit but giving up can be hard. Especially without the right help and support. That’s where our friendly and professional staff come in!
There is now more support than ever before, not just in the form of information, but also products designed to reduce cravings and to fight off any of the horrible withdrawal symptoms. One of the developments has been the introduction of Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT.) There are a variety of NRT products available:
Smoking is addictive because of the nicotine in cigarettes. That is why it is hard to quit. By starting one or even a combination of the above therapies, they will give a smoker a dose of nicotine in their blood. This reduces the nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings, whilst they break away from the psychological habit of smoking.
Our staff can advise you on the best way to kick your smoking habit. By coming in to our store our trained pharmacist will provide you with a free consultation, asking you questions such as how many cigarettes you smoke in a day and what triggers the need for a cigarette etc. By determining your ‘level of nicotine addiction’ the pharmacist will then be able to offer their advice on what they think would work best for you.
The pharmacist may even offer advice in other forms, for example, letting you know about any local support groups, advising you to take up a hobby or even suggesting a routine to start you off.
The benefit of having this support is that we are there 7 days a week whenever you need help, or even just a friendly professional to speak with. It is a proven fact that if you receive support while trying to stop smoking your chance for success is greatly increased.
We can provide a supervised consumption service, usually in the private consultation room in the pharmacy.
We can provide consultations over the phone.
Going abroad and need to know which vaccinations you require or need advice on precautions?
We provide travel consultations with experienced staff who will assess the impact of any pre-existing medical conditions on your vaccine requirements. Our competitive pricing and easily accessible location makes us your first choice for all your travel needs
Walk in for a free travel health consultation in our designated private consultation rooms today. We look forward to welcoming you and helping you with all your travel healthcare needs.
A pre-travel risk assessment provides a good opportunity to discuss travel-associated risk management with your pharmacist.
You'll need to contact us to arrange this, ideally 6 to 8 weeks before you leave. If your trip is sooner, contact us anyway as we may still be able to help and could provide vital health information.
During the assessment, we will:
Altitude Sickness - the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the negative health effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
Cholera – Common in Africa, Central America and Asia, cholera is an infection spread by bacteria in contaminated food and water.
Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis and Tetanus - This diphtheria, polio and tetanus vaccine may also be recommended if you're travelling to an area of the world where there is a high risk of contracting these diseases, or poor access to medical care, and you haven't had a booster in the last ten years.
Hepatitis A – Contaminated faecal matter spreads hepatitis A, a disease often caught via infected food and water and common across in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.
Hepatitis B – Unprotected sex is usually responsible for hepatitis A infection, along with sharing needles, visiting dirty tattoo parlours, unhygienic barbers shops and nail salons. It’s common in both undeveloped and developed countries.
Japanese Encephalitis – Spread by mosquitoes, there’s no cure for this disease found across South East Asia, Japan, and tropical regions of Australia. There are also occasional epidemics in China and India.
Malaria – A highly dangerous disease spread by infected mosquitoes, malaria is common in the equatorial tropics and subtropics.
Meningitis; ACWY Vaccination for Hajj or Umrah – A bacterial infection, this disease tends to be commonest in sub-Saharan Africa. But it’s also sometimes found where it’s crowded and where there’s imperfect hygiene, for example universities and army camps.
Rabies – Infected animal and human bites and scratches spread this awful disease, which is particularly common in Thailand, Brazil and India.
Tick-borne Encephalitis – A tick-borne virus found in eastern, northern and central Europe as well as eastern Russia, east Asia, China and Japan.
Typhoid – Bacteria are responsible for this infection and it’s found throughout the world, a risk wherever sanitation and hygiene are poor.
A urinary tract Infection (UTI) can occur in any part of your urinary system. Women are at greatest risk with symptoms including a burning feeling when you urinate, a frequent urge to urinate, even though little comes out when you do and pain in your back or lower abdomen. In addition your urine in often cloudy, dark, smelly and may have blood in it.
Our Pharmacy is registered to treat some Urinary Tract Infections without having to visit your GP. If you are a woman between 16 - 65 years old, have not had antibiotic treatment for a urinary tract infection in the last 28 days and have not had more than three previous urinary infections in the last year please speak to our Pharmacist. The Pharmacist will discuss your symptoms and whether you are eligible for treatment directly from the Pharmacy.
We provide a vaccination service and a range of vaccinations are available, please contact the pharmacy for further details.
We stock a popular range of vitamins and supplements aimed at nutrition, and women's and men's health.
We are here to help you make good choices. If you are struggling losing weight, please ask the pharmacist to help you beat the bulge.
The term obese describes a person who is very overweight. There are two ways of checking your weight status. Firstly, Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of whether you’re a healthy weight for your height. A BMI of > 25 means you are over-weight.
Another measure of excess fat is your waist circumference. Generally, men with a waist circumference of 94cm or more and women with a waist circumference of 80 cm or more are more likely to develop obesity related health problems. These include
Type 2 diabetes, Coronary heart disease, some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and bowel cancer and stroke. If you are worried about diabetes we can give you a diabetic test.
Obesity can also affect your quality of life and lead to psychological problems such as depression and low self-esteem. Please let us help you before your weight gets out of control.
We can offer weight management help. Pharmacists are ideally placed to help you manage your weight as they already provide many health services to customers, including stop smoking services, blood pressure and cholesterol measurements and general advice on nutrition and healthy living. Pharmacists also know when a weight problem can be managed in the pharmacy and when there is a medical problem that needs co-operation with the doctor.
Ask us for advice on how to get started.