Those aged 18 years old and over can access remote consultation and NHS-funded* Treatment for shingles, without the need to see your GP.
Pharmacy First Shingles Service
- Eazihealth Pharmacy, Unit C, Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road Faversham, Kent. ME13 8XZ
Advice and treatment service for Shingles
As an NHS online pharmacy, Eazihealth Pharmacy offers remote consultations and NHS-funded treatment for shingles through the Pharmacy First Service to eligible patients. Now you can book your appointment online.
If you have symptoms suggestive of a shingles infection, it is important to get an antiviral treatment, if it is clinically appropriate, at the initial stages to reduce the duration and severity of the infection.
Who is eligible to receive advice and treatment for shingles under the Free NHS Pharmacy First Service?
Advice and treatment services for shingles are available through the Pharmacy First Service to those aged 18 years old and over. The pharmacy team will assess your eligibility for the free NHS Pharmacy First Service. If you are not eligible, the pharmacy team may recommend a private service/treatment or sign-post you to another health service provider.
What is shingles?
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. When an individual is infected with chickenpox, the virus stays in their body in an inactive form. The inactive virus can become activated due several reasons, causing shingles.
The virus that causes chickenpox and later becomes reactivated to cause shingles is called the varicella-zoster virus.
What are the Main Symptoms of shingles?
It is important to recognise the signs and symptoms of shingles and start a treatment course as early as possible and clinically appropriate.
The initial signs of shingles include:
- Painful feeling in an area of the skin
- Having a headache or feeling unwell
The rash usually appears a few days later. The rash occurs most commonly on the chest or tummy but it can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, eyes and genitals
The rash usually develops on one side of the body.
What are the available treatments for shingles through the Pharmacy First Service?
Your symptoms will be assessed by one of the pharmacists during a remote consultation. You may be offered treatment through the Pharmacy First Service if it is clinically appropriate and you are eligible under this service.
Antiviral tablets
for the treatment of shingles (herpes zoster) infection.
*If you are issued a prescription medicine, you will pay the standard NHS prescription charge unless you’re eligible for free prescriptions.
If the pharmacist is unable to offer treatment through this service, they will recommend an alternative or sign-post you to another service.
Want to learn more about shingles? Check out the NHS webpage for up-to-date advice and information on sore throat.
NHS Pharmacy First Service in England
The Pharmacy First Service is an NHS service designed to offer free advice and treatments to eligible patients for seven common conditions. As an NHS online pharmacy, we can offer remote consultations for the following additional five conditions.