Free NHS Services in Gillingham Most Patients Don't Know About

Why go to the pharmacy instead of the GP?

Many people in Gillingham and across Medway book a GP appointment out of habit — even for things a pharmacist can handle the same day, for free, without a referral. GP appointment slots are under pressure. Waiting days or weeks for a minor illness is frustrating and unnecessary when the pharmacy on your street can see you today.

Medway Pharmacy at 465 Canterbury Street, Gillingham is a fully contracted NHS provider. The pharmacists here, Sukhdip Bahia and Emmanuella Torto-Doku, are both General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)-registered clinicians — not shop assistants. They are qualified to assess, advise, and in many cases treat you directly.

Below is a plain guide to the free NHS services available at Medway Pharmacy that do not require a GP appointment.

Pharmacy First: seven conditions, no GP needed

NHS Pharmacy First was launched in January 2024. It allows trained pharmacists to assess and treat seven specific conditions under a nationally approved NHS clinical pathway — including supplying prescription-only medicines where appropriate. There is no consultation fee and no prescription charge.

The seven conditions covered are:

• Urinary tract infection (UTI) — women aged 16 to 64 without complicating factors. The pharmacist can supply antibiotics the same day.
• Sinusitis — adults and children aged 12 and over with symptoms lasting at least 10 days, or worsening after initial improvement.
• Earache (acute otitis media) — children aged 1 to 17 years with ear pain lasting fewer than 4 days.
• Sore throat — patients aged 5 and over. The pharmacist uses a clinical scoring tool to decide whether antibiotics are appropriate.
• Impetigo — adults and children aged 1 year and over with a localised skin infection. The pharmacist can supply topical or oral antibiotics where needed.
• Infected insect bite — patients aged 1 year and over with a bite site showing signs of infection (redness, warmth, swelling, or discharge).
• Shingles — adults aged 18 and over presenting within 72 hours of rash onset. Early treatment is most effective, so prompt pharmacy access is particularly valuable here.

Each condition has defined eligibility criteria. If your situation falls outside those criteria, the pharmacist will advise you on the right next step — which may be a GP or urgent care — rather than leaving you without guidance.

You can book a Pharmacy First consultation online at medwaypharmacy.simplybook.it, or simply walk in. Medway Pharmacy is usually open Monday to Sunday from 7:30am to 10pm, excluding bank holidays. If your GP surgery is closed at the weekend or in the evening, you can still be seen.

Free NHS contraception

The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service lets patients access oral contraception without needing to see a GP. This includes starting contraception for the first time, continuing an existing supply, or switching to a new pill. The service is free, confidential, and available without a referral.

The pharmacist will carry out a brief consultation to check that the chosen contraception is safe and suitable for you. This includes asking about your health history, any medicines you take, and your blood pressure. If a different form of contraception (such as an injection or coil) would be more appropriate, the pharmacist will advise you and direct you to the right service.

Walk-in appointments are welcome. You do not need to bring anything specific, but it helps to know the name of any contraceptive pill you have taken before.

Emergency hormonal contraception

Emergency hormonal contraception (sometimes called the morning-after pill) is available at Medway Pharmacy under the NHS. It is free and confidential. You do not need a GP appointment, and you do not need to explain your circumstances to anyone other than the pharmacist in a private consultation room.

Emergency hormonal contraception is most effective when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. Depending on which product is appropriate, it can be effective for up to 72 hours or, in some cases, up to 120 hours (5 days). The pharmacist will advise which option is right for you based on timing and your medical history.

Medway Pharmacy is usually open until 10pm on weekdays and weekends. If you need emergency contraception outside standard surgery hours, this is one of the most accessible options in Gillingham. Call 01634 575805 before travelling if you are unsure whether the service is available at that time.

Free blood pressure checks

High blood pressure (hypertension) usually has no symptoms. Many people in the UK live with it for years without knowing. Left untreated, high blood pressure significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

Medway Pharmacy offers free blood pressure checks — no appointment needed. The check takes only a few minutes. If your reading is outside the normal range, the pharmacist will advise you on what to do next, including whether a GP referral is appropriate.

This service is part of the NHS Blood Pressure (hypertension) case-finding programme for adults aged 40 and over. Checking your blood pressure at the pharmacy is one of the simplest things you can do for your long-term health — and it costs nothing.

If you have already been diagnosed with high blood pressure and are on treatment, the pharmacist can also check whether your medicines are working and answer questions about your tablets.

Free stop smoking support

Stopping smoking is the single most effective thing most people can do to improve their health. Medway Pharmacy provides NHS stop smoking support, including one-to-one consultations with a trained adviser and access to stop smoking medicines such as nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum, lozenges) and varenicline where appropriate.

The support is free and structured. You will be guided through a quit plan and given regular check-ins to track your progress. Evidence consistently shows that combining behavioural support with stop smoking medicine significantly increases the chance of quitting successfully compared with willpower alone.

You do not need a GP referral. Speak to the pharmacist at Medway Pharmacy on Canterbury Street or call 01634 575805 to find out how to get started.

Free condoms (C-card scheme)

The C-card (condom card) scheme provides free condoms to young people in Medway. It is run through Medway Council and NHS services to help reduce the rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies.

Eligibility and registration requirements for the C-card scheme are set by Medway Council. Speak to the pharmacist or a member of staff at Medway Pharmacy for up-to-date information on how to register and collect condoms locally.

If you are not eligible for the C-card scheme, condoms are also available to purchase over the counter at Medway Pharmacy.