Skin Infections (NHS)

Many common skin infections can be assessed and treated directly by your local pharmacy through NHS services, without needing to wait for a GP appointment.

At The Health Dispensary, we provide NHS assessment and treatment for eligible skin infections through the Common Ailments Service (CAS) and Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Services (PIPS), where clinically appropriate.

Our trained pharmacy team, including pharmacist prescribers, can assess symptoms, provide advice, and supply or prescribe treatment under NHS pathways when suitable.

Types of Skin Infections We Can Assess

Skin infections we commonly assess and manage under NHS pharmacy services include:

• Bacterial skin infections (such as infected cuts, grazes, or minor wounds)
• Impetigo (where eligible)
• Infected eczema
• Folliculitis
• Boils and small abscesses (early assessment)
• Fungal skin infections (such as ringworm or athlete’s foot)
• Infected insect bites
• Paronychia (infection around the nail)
• Shingles (early assessment and referral where appropriate)

Eligibility for NHS treatment depends on your age, symptoms, severity, timing, and clinical assessment.

How NHS Skin Infection Assessments Work

Your consultation takes place in a private room and usually includes:

• Discussion of symptoms and how long they’ve been present
• Visual assessment of the affected area
• Questions about pain, redness, swelling, discharge, or fever
• Review of relevant medical history and current medicines

Where appropriate, treatment may be supplied under NHS funding, or a prescription may be issued by a pharmacist prescriber through PIPS.

Common Ailments Service (CAS)

Some mild skin infections can be managed under the NHS Common Ailments Service, allowing eligible patients to receive advice and treatment without a GP appointment.

If your condition meets CAS criteria, treatment may be provided free of charge under the NHS.

Pharmacy Independent Prescribing (PIPS)

For certain skin infections, assessment and treatment may take place under NHS pharmacist independent prescribing.

This allows timely access to prescription-only treatments for infections where prescribing is clinically appropriate, helping avoid delays and unnecessary GP visits.

When to Seek Urgent Medical Help

Some skin infections need urgent GP or hospital assessment. We will always refer you if needed.

Seek urgent medical advice if you have:

• Rapidly spreading redness or swelling
• Severe pain or tenderness
• High fever or feeling generally unwell
• Skin infection affecting the face, eyes, or genitals
• Suspected shingles affecting the eye or face
• Signs of sepsis or rapidly worsening symptoms

Book an NHS Skin Infection Consultation

If you have a suspected skin infection and are unsure whether it needs GP care, an NHS pharmacy consultation is often the quickest place to start.

If your condition is not suitable for NHS pharmacy treatment, we will guide you to the most appropriate next step.