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Written & reviewed by Sukhdip Bahia
Pharmacist, Medway Pharmacy· GPhC registered
Quick answer
Earache in children aged 1–17 can be assessed and treated at Medway Pharmacy under the NHS Pharmacy First service. Our pharmacist will examine the ear with an otoscope and can supply amoxicillin or Otigo ear drops where appropriate — free on the NHS, no GP appointment needed.
Earache in children is one of the most distressing conditions for both children and their parents. Acute otitis media — infection of the middle ear — is particularly common in young children and can cause significant pain, fever, and sleepless nights. Parents across Medway and Gillingham regularly visit our pharmacy when their child develops earache, often on evenings or weekends when their GP is closed.
The NHS Pharmacy First service allows our pharmacist Sukhdip Bahia to carry out a clinical assessment of earache in children aged 1–17 years. This includes a physical examination of the ear using an otoscope (a lit instrument that allows the pharmacist to look inside the ear canal and at the eardrum). Based on the assessment, he can decide whether antibiotics or medicated ear drops are appropriate.
This service is particularly valuable for parents who cannot get a same-day GP appointment. Our Canterbury Street pharmacy in Gillingham is open every day from 7:30am to 10pm, making it one of the most accessible healthcare options in the Medway towns for children's earache.
The Pharmacy First earache pathway covers children aged 1 to 17 years. It is not suitable for children under 1 year, or for children with high-risk comorbidities such as a cochlear implant, cleft palate, Down's syndrome, or immunodeficiency. A physical ear examination with an otoscope is required before any treatment can be supplied, so the child must be present at the pharmacy.
Following examination, if an acute ear infection is confirmed, our pharmacist can supply amoxicillin as a first-line oral antibiotic for children with acute otitis media. If there is an outer ear infection (otitis externa), Otigo ear drops (acetic acid 2% in an aluminium acetate solution) may be supplied instead. For penicillin-allergic children, clarithromycin may be prescribed. Pain relief with paracetamol or ibuprofen (age-appropriate dosing) is always recommended alongside any treatment.
Children's earache is a frequent presentation at Medway Pharmacy, particularly during autumn and winter when upper respiratory infections are common in schools across Gillingham, Chatham, and Rochester. Our pharmacist Sukhdip Bahia has the otoscope and clinical training needed to carry out a proper ear examination on site. Many local parents have found that walking in to see us on Canterbury Street is faster and less stressful than waiting for a GP, especially during school term times when earaches often occur suddenly.
Yes. Pharmacy First covers earache in children aged 1–17 years. The pharmacist will carry out a physical examination using an otoscope and can supply amoxicillin or Otigo ear drops where appropriate.
Yes. A physical examination of the ear is required for the earache pathway. The pharmacist will look inside the ear to assess the cause before deciding on treatment.
Go to A&E immediately if you notice swelling and redness behind the ear (mastoiditis), facial nerve weakness or paralysis, or signs of meningitis such as a stiff neck or sensitivity to light.
While Pharmacy First covers many cases of Earache, you should seek further care if:
Choose a convenient time online, or call us if you are not sure whether Pharmacy First covers your symptoms.