Pharmacy Common Conditions Service

The Common Conditions Service allows pharmacists to offer healthcare advice and treatment including access to prescription medicines where appropriate, for 8 common conditions*.

This service offers fast and convenient access to safe, high-quality, pharmacist-led healthcare.

To avail of this service, you can call in directly to us in DCU Glasnevin Campus, where one of our trained pharmacists will be happy to assist you. Alternatively, we will have an online booking available soon to ensure that there are no waiting times.

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How do I avail of the Common Conditions Service?

The Common Conditions Service is designed to offer professional healthcare advice and treatment for eight common illnesses through your local pharmacy.

If you think you or your child have one of the eight common conditions listed below, you can visit our pharmacy and the pharmacist will complete a consultation with you to diagnose your condition. They’ll follow a HSE clinical protocol that includes self-care and safety-netting advice and, where appropriate, prescribe and supply a restricted set of prescription-only medicines without the need to visit a GP.  If the symptoms don’t meet with condition inclusion criteria the pharmacist might refer you to another healthcare professional.

What common conditions can our pharmacists diagnose & treat?

  • Allergic Rhinitis & Allegrgic Conjunctivis (2 years & older)
  • Cold Sores (1 month & older)
  • Infective Conjunctivitis (6 months & older)
  • Impetigo ( 2 months & older)
  • Oral Thrush ( 1 month & older)
  • Shingles (18 years & older)
  • Uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in women (16-64 years)
  • Vulvovaginal Thrush (16-60 years)

Various other eligibility criteria also apply
– If you don’t fit the required criteria or the symptoms are not within the inclusion criteria the pharmacist may be able to offer you some practical advice, suggest an Over-the-Counter Mediation or may refer you to another healthcare professional for further care.

All of our pharmacists are fully trained to provide this service and adhere to strict operational procedures as well as HSE
clinical protocols. These protocols include self-care and safety-netting guidance and enable pharmacist prescribing and supply of a restricted range of prescription-only medicines, without the need to visit a GP.

Inflammation in the inside of the nose after being exposed to an allergen e.g. pollen. Causes sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy, watery eyes.
Small, painful blisters around the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus. Usually start with a tingling sensation.
An infection of the eye that causes redness, discharge, and irritation.
A contagious skin infection that causes red sores and honey-coloured crusts, often found on the face and hands
A fungal infection in the mouth that causes soreness in the mouth and white patches that cannot be rubbed off. 
An infection that starts with tingling or pain on the skin and causes a painful rash. Caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus.
A bladder infection, caused by bacteria, causing pain or burning when passing urine and frequent urination
A common yeast infection causing itching, soreness, and white vaginal discharge.

What is the fee for the service?

The pharmacist consultation feed is €20. If a pharmacist considers a medicine is suitable ad indicated for you they can prescribe the medication. An additional charge may apply for treatment recommended or prescribed. Prescribed medicines are eligible for dispensing under the Drugs Payment Scheme and Medical Card in the usual way that is routinely applied with a prescription.

Frequently asked questions

Step 1 – One of our trained Healthcare Advisors will take some personal details and a few details on your medical condition and then refer you to the pharmacist for consultation.
Step 2 – Our pharmacist will carry out a structured consultation with you to assess your symptoms and discuss the most appropriate next steps. This may include writing a prescription for a prescription-only medicine, recommending a pharmacy medicine (available without a prescription), and providing practical self-care advice and information to support your recovery.
Step 3 – If medical treatment has been recommended by the pharmacist the team will dispense your medication from the pharmacists prescription or advise on the OTC medication that has been recommended for you. 
In some cases the pharmacist may need to refer you to another healthcare professional for further treatment, tests or further advice. 

Our pharmacists, following a consultation, will provide advice and, if suitable, recommend appropriate treatment based on you, the condition you are looking to treat and your symptoms; this could include a course of an antibiotic if deemed appropriate.