Self-care is about keeping fit and healthy, understanding when you can look after yourself, when a pharmacist can help, and when to get advice from your GP or another health professional.
Self-care is recommended when you have a minor condition which doesn’t normally need medical care (from a doctor or nurse) or any treatment in order to get better. In practice this means a person decides that they can manage their illness without seeing a doctor.
Community pharmacies stock over the counter products for many short term, minor illnesses and conditions, including:
- Cough and cold remedies
- Painkillers (such as paracetamol)
- Anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofen)
- Skin creams and washes
- Antifungal treatments
- Treatment for bites and stings
- Diarrhoea treatments
- Hay fever treatments, including tablets and nasal sprays
- Indigestion remedies
- Laxatives
- Sore throat sprays and lozenges
You do not need a prescription from a GP to buy over the counter medicines. Find out more about what medicines and treatments you can buy without seeing your GP at your local pharmacy or supermarket.