Sore throat
Assessed by our pharmacy team under NHS Pharmacy First - no GP appointment needed for eligible patients.
A sore throat is one of the most common reasons people seek help. Most are caused by cold and flu viruses and settle on their own within a week, but some are bacterial and benefit from antibiotics.
The difficulty is telling one from the other. Under NHS Pharmacy First, our pharmacist can assess your throat, score how likely a bacterial cause is, and supply treatment where clinically appropriate.
What you might notice
- Pain or scratchiness when swallowing
- Red, inflamed tonsils, sometimes with white spots of pus
- Swollen, tender glands in the neck
- A high temperature or headache
- A hoarse or muffled voice
How we can help
Our pharmacist will look at your throat, check your temperature and ask how long symptoms have lasted. They use a clinical scoring tool (FeverPAIN) to judge how likely a bacterial infection is, and what treatment fits.
If antibiotics are not needed, you will get a clear self-care plan. If they are needed, the pharmacist can supply them under the service for eligible patients.
Treatment
For viral sore throats, pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, plenty of fluids, throat lozenges and rest are the mainstay. Where a bacterial cause is likely, antibiotics such as penicillin may be supplied through the service.
Get urgent help if you have
- Difficulty breathing, or noisy breathing
- Drooling, or being unable to swallow fluids
- Severe pain on one side, a muffled voice or difficulty opening your mouth
- A stiff neck, severe headache or a fine rash alongside the sore throat
- Symptoms that are not improving after a week
Common questions
Related reading
Think you have sore throat?
Book an NHS Pharmacy First assessment, or walk in and speak to our team.