If you’re between 40 and 74 and live in the UK, you should have a health check which we can do at our pharmacy for a nominal charge.
The health check should take around 30 minutes. A healthcare professional, will ask you a series of simple questions about your lifestyle and family history. The check is nothing to worry about and you won’t be asked any embarrassing questions or need to remove clothing.
You can also expect:
The Health Check focuses on:
If you are over 65, you will also be told the signs of dementia to look out for.
After your blood pressure test, sugar level test and BMI results, the Pharmacist will be happy to offer lifestyle advice or suggest you visit your GP, if needed. They might offer ideas on how to:
Heartburn and acid reflux are common problems for many adults. Often GSL and P medicines are not adequate in treating the symptoms, Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can be more effective treatments. Our service will save you a trip to the GP and can also be a cheaper alternative to certain medication available over the counter.
Acne can have a huge negative impact on self-confidence. If you are suffering from acne you may have tried products from the supermarket or from your local pharmacy which have not cleared your acne or in some cases, made it worse. We can provide clinically proven treatments for mild, moderate or severe acne.
An allergy is when your body reacts to a substance it has become sensitive to. For example, dust, food, pollen, medication etc. Allergens in food and other substances cause your body to have an immune reaction. Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions. In the UK alone, around 13 million people suffer from hay fever. Although it usually begins during childhood/teenage years, you can get it at any age.
The symptoms of hay fever occur when a person has had an allergic reaction to pollen. Some of the symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, wheezing, coughing etc. As much as we can try to avoid pollen, unfortunately, sometimes it is just not avoidable. Particularly in the summer when there is naturally more pollen around, and we tend to spend more time outside.
While there is currently no cure for hay fever, there is a way you can relieve the symptoms, at least to a certain extent. A range of antihistamines are available at our pharmacy to help you prevent an allergic reaction from happening. There are tablets, nasal sprays and even products to help soothe symptoms, for example, sprays for itchy eyes. We also offer Fexofenadine (Telfast) which is a prescription strength antihistamine for those that suffer greatly from hay fever. After a quick consult with our pharmacist, you can purchase this from our store to help soothe any symptoms.
As part of our specialised travel clinic we are able to offer acetazolamide, a medication that can prevent, as well as treat altitude sickness.
We offer a respiratory service for those suffering from asthma. Our service will save you from having to go to the GP every time to request a repeat for your salbutamol/Ventolin inhaler.
Check your blood pressure
The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test.
All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years. Getting this done is easy and could save your life.
You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including:
You can also check your blood pressure yourself with a home blood pressure monitor.
A simple blood test can help reduce your risk from some of the most serious conditions that typically show NO symptoms at all.
Blood screening is a medical process in which blood is scanned to test for a particular disease or condition. Although this procedure may be done for variety of reasons, the most common include Hepatitis screenings, pregnancy screenings, and screenings for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). The use of a blood screenings may also be needed to check for things like Vitamin D levels and food intolerance.
It is known that food can cause many different types of reactions in the body. These may be evident in the skin (such as hives, rashes, itchiness, or swellings); the gut (such as reflux, vomiting, tummy pains, wind, diarrhoea, and constipation); when breathing (such as shortness of breath or a tight chest) or through generally feeling unwell. Some people put up with symptoms for years, which could get better if the foods causing these symptoms were cut out of the diet.
"Knowing what you're allergic to is key to managing your condition"
Finding out which foods are causing your symptoms can be straightforward for some people and incredibly tricky for others, dependent on what their symptoms are; how quickly the symptoms appear after eating a food; and which food (or foods) is causing a problem. We have partnered up with one of the largest independent providers of clinical laboratory diagnostic services in the UK. So that we provide our customers with the laboratory information required for diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders. Our blood screening service is painless, quick and carried out with the utmost discretion. The types of screenings offered at Bush Pharmacy are shown below, prices are heavily discounted with further discounts available on request. Please call us on 0208-7439254 or pop into the pharmacy for more information.
TESTS AVAILABLE
The Full STI test includes:
The Food Intolerance tests a complete intolerance profile including trees, weeds, grasses, moulds, animals as well as foods
Blood glucose tests, which can be conducted in our pharmacy through a simple blood test, measure the amount of glucose in your blood. Glucose is a simple sugar that provides energy for the body. The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach). When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it's broken down to produce energy. However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there's either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced doesn't work properly.
Although there are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is often linked to being overweight.
PCR swab testing for COVID-19 is the most accurate (close to 100%) testing method available for an active infection. Nasal / Throat swabs collected using BD dry swabs. The turnaround time is 72 hours. The actual test is carried out in a separate, dedicated medical laboratory.
This test takes 30minute and done in the pharmacy £60
This test is to find out if you have been infected with the coronavirus in the past. Whole blood, serum or plasma can be used for testing. Results are available in 10 minutes, on site, in store.
As part of our sexual health clinic we provide a test 'n' treat service which includes rapid diagnosis through testing to confirm the prescence of chlamydia, followed by appropriate treatment where necessary. Often times this sexually transmitted infection will not show up any noticeable symptoms.
Prescription strength Otomize Ear Spray for ear infections without needing to see your GP
The emergency contraceptive pill (morning after pill) – there are two types, Levonelle or ellaOne. You can get both Levonelle and ellaOne free of charge from:
After consultation with a pharmacist you can buy emergency contraception from our pharmacy. Levonelle can be taken within 72 hours (three days) of having unprotected sex, but it's most effective if taken within 12 hours of having unprotected sex. Prices vary, but it's likely to cost around £25. You need to be 16 or over to buy Levonelle. Girls under 16 can get Levonelle, but only with a prescription from their doctor.
ellaOne can be taken within 120 hours (five days) of having unprotected sex, but it's most effective if taken as soon as possible after having unprotected sex. Prices vary, but it's likely to cost around £35. ellaOne can be sold to under 16s without a prescription.
Erection problems (impotence) are very common, particularly in men over 40. It's usually nothing to worry about, but you should see a GP if it keeps happening.
Most men occasionally fail to get or keep an erection. Causes of erection problems can be stress, tiredness, anxiety or drinking too much alcohol, and it's nothing to worry about.
If it happens more often, it may be caused by physical or emotional problems.
Medicine such as sildenafil is often used by doctors to treat erectile dysfunction. It is also available from our pharmacy. You no longer need a prescription to get sildenafil. You can have a private consultation with our pharmacist to make sure it's safe for you to take it.
Is hair loss causing you distress? Are you worried about what to do? Losing your hair can greatly affect your confidence and self-esteem. It is an issue that affects both men and women, with male pattern baldness being the most common form. Most men are affected by male pattern baldness as they get older, but unfortunately, some men do start to suffer much earlier in life. But for both men and women even signs of slight thinning can cause concerns.
Whether you are dealing with hair loss, or even if you just want to get a head start to help ensure your hair stays healthy for as long as possible, we offer a range of products for both men and women. From vitamins and supplements to foams and shampoos, we even have products to help conceal thinning hair.
One of the main hair loss treatments we also offer is Finasteride (Propecia). Men who suffer from male pattern baldness are sensitive to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, which causes damage to hair follicles. Finasteride (Propecia) is a prescription strength treatment that reduces the level of this particular hormone, and in turn reverses any balding. If you think you could benefit from this treatment come in store today, and speak to our pharmacist for a quick consultation to see if the treatment is suitable for you. If it is, you should be able to take the medication away with you that day. Please note, the medication is chargeable and is for men only.
Always keep in mind that hair regrowth isn’t instant and takes time. Results may vary from person to person and in some cases products must be used continuously to maintain the effects. But the earlier you start helping to maintain normal healthy hair growth, the better.
If you are worried about hair loss then come in store today and speak to a pharmacist about your options. Our pharmacists are trained to make sure they have the right knowledge and skills in order to help you with any concerns you may have.
-Strep A throat test
Streptococcus group A, are bacteria which infect the throat causing inflammation, sore throat redness and swollen glands
Only a small proportion of sore throat are caused by strep A and the strep A rapid test can confirm if the throat infection is bacteria, avoiding unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Our trained staff will take a throat swab and test for the presence of Strep A. We can also prescribe appropriate antibiotics or send a referral to your NHS doctor.
-C-reactive protein test
This is a blood test that can help differentiate between a viral or bacterial systemic infection.
Prescription strength melatonin (Circadin ) to treat jet lag without a prescription
Every year many hundreds of travellers from the UK catch malaria and in tens of cases it is fatal. Symptoms can start rapidly. The correct anti-malarial medication is essential. We offer a Private Malaria Prevention Service. After a confidential assessment by a trained Pharmacist, the correct anti-malarial medication is supplied and appropriate advice given to the patient.
Norethisterone to delay menstruation without seeing the GP
Prescription strength migraine treatment without having to see your GP
At My Private Chemist we care about your long term health and if you are a smoker who wants to quit, but think you need help to kick the habit, our award winning Stop Smoking Service might be just what you are looking for. We have had many successes over the years and wish to help you kick the habit.
We have an award-winning stop smoking service and our stop smoking success rates have been recognised by the health board, winning Pharmacy of the Year.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths accounting for more than 80,000 deaths each year. One in two smokers will die from a smoking related disease. If you could see the damage you would stop.
Circulation
When you smoke, the poisons from the tar in your cigarettes enter your blood. These poisons in your blood then:
Together these changes to your body when you smoke increase the chance of your arteries narrowing and clots forming which could lead to heart attack and stroke.
Stomach
Smokers have an increased chance of getting stomach cancer or ulcers. Smoking is a significant risk factor for developing kidney cancer and the more you smoke the greater the risk.
Skin
Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your skin. This means your skin ages more quickly and looks grey and dull. The toxins in your body also cause cellulite. Smoking prematurely ages your skin by between 10 and 20 years increasing wrinkling particularly around the eyes and mouth. The only way to prevent further deterioration is to stop smoking.
Bones
Smoking can cause your bones to become weak and brittle predisposing to brittle bones (osteoporosis).
Brain
Smokers are more likely to have a stroke than someone who doesn’t smoke. Within two years of stopping smoking your risk of stoke is reduced to half that of a smoker and within five years it will be the same as a non-smoker.
Lungs
Your lungs can be very badly affected by smoking. Coughs, colds, wheezing and asthma are just the start. Smoking can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia emphysema, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. You can slow down the progression of some of the diseases by stopping smoking.
With the rules and guidelines regarding passport photos constantly changing, you need a reliable photo printing service that can be flexible and continuously adapt. Here at JP Pharmacy we are Passport photo and Photo ID specialists, and we give our guarantee of a professional service.
As well as Passport photos, we take ID Photos for proof of age, student cards, driving licences etc. Our service is offered to both adults and children of any age.
Our ID and Passport photos are taken and printed while you wait. You can preview your photo before it is printed so you are 100% satisfied.
How can I delay my period?
There's no guaranteed way to delay your period, but it may be possible if you take the combined contraceptive pill. If you take a combined contraceptive pill, you can delay your period by taking 2 packets back-to-back.
How you do this will depend on which pill you take. Examples are:
Taking your contraceptive pills in the ways described above will not affect how they work as contraceptives. If you're not sure which pill you're on or which pills in the packet to miss out, speak to our pharmacist, community contraception clinic or GP.
Avoid taking more than 2 packs without a break, unless your GP says you can.
There's a risk you could experience side effects, such as:
Progestogen-only contraceptive pill
If you're taking a progestogen-only contraceptive pill, you cannot delay your period by taking 2 packets back-to-back. You may be able to switch to the combined contraceptive pill or take another medication to delay your period. If you're not sure which type of pill you're taking, speak to our pharmacist.
If you do not take a contraceptive pill
See your GP for advice if you want to delay your period and you're not taking the combined contraceptive pill.
After consultation our pharmacists are able to prescribe medication called norethisterone to delay your period, you will be advised you when to take norethisterone and for how long. You'll usually be prescribed 3 norethisterone tablets a day, starting 3 to 4 days before you expect your period to begin. Your period should arrive 2 to 3 days after you stop taking the medication. Please note, Norethisterone does not act as a contraceptive when used in this way, so you could still get pregnant. You'll need to use another type of contraceptive, such as a condom. Norethisterone may not be suitable if you have a history of blood clots.
How well it works in delaying periods also varies between women. Some women taking norethisterone have reported side effects, such as:
Switching to, or starting, the combined contraceptive pill
If you currently use another type of contraception, switching to the combined contraceptive pill will allow you to delay your period. You may also be able to start taking the combined pill if you do not already use contraception. You may need to start taking this pill several weeks before the time when you want to delay your period, and it's not suitable for everyone. If you're switching to or starting the combined contraceptive pill, you might need to use additional contraception during the first few days of taking it.
Ask our pharmacist for more information and advice.
Proctosedyl Suppositories and Ointment prescription strength treatment without the need to see your GP
We recommend you consider getting a flub jab If you don't qualify for an NHS vaccination but are:
This service is available on a walk in basis without an appointment and there is a charge but please call the pharmacy first.
Beclometasone treament for your scalp for severe dermatitis, exzema or psoriasis
Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.In our pharmacy we can do a test for a sore throat and consult for water infection and give antibiotics if appropriate-saving you an appointment with the GP.
How to treat a sore throat yourself
To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts you can:
To help relieve the pain and discomfort of a sore throat you can:
You can buy them from our pharmacy without a prescription.
Antibiotic tonsillitis treatment without a prescription or seeing your GP
Going abroad and need to know which vaccinations you require or need advice on precautions?
We provide travel consultations with experienced staff who will assess the impact of any pre-existing medical conditions on your vaccine requirements. Our competitive pricing and easily accessible location makes us your first choice for all your travel needs
Walk in for a free travel health consultation in our designated private consultation rooms today. We look forward to welcoming you and helping you with all your travel healthcare needs.
A pre-travel risk assessment provides a good opportunity to discuss travel-associated risk management with your pharmacist.
You'll need to contact us to arrange this, ideally 6 to 8 weeks before you leave. If your trip is sooner, contact us anyway as we may still be able to help and could provide vital health information.
During the assessment, we will:
Altitude Sickness - the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the negative health effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
Cholera – Common in Africa, Central America and Asia, cholera is an infection spread by bacteria in contaminated food and water.
Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis and Tetanus - This diphtheria, polio and tetanus vaccine may also be recommended if you're travelling to an area of the world where there is a high risk of contracting these diseases, or poor access to medical care, and you haven't had a booster in the last ten years.
Hepatitis A – Contaminated faecal matter spreads hepatitis A, a disease often caught via infected food and water and common across in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.
Hepatitis B – Unprotected sex is usually responsible for hepatitis A infection, along with sharing needles, visiting dirty tattoo parlours, unhygienic barbers shops and nail salons. It’s common in both undeveloped and developed countries.
Japanese Encephalitis – Spread by mosquitoes, there’s no cure for this disease found across South East Asia, Japan, and tropical regions of Australia. There are also occasional epidemics in China and India.
Malaria – A highly dangerous disease spread by infected mosquitoes, malaria is common in the equatorial tropics and subtropics.
Meningitis; ACWY Vaccination for Hajj or Umrah – A bacterial infection, this disease tends to be commonest in sub-Saharan Africa. But it’s also sometimes found where it’s crowded and where there’s imperfect hygiene, for example universities and army camps.
Rabies – Infected animal and human bites and scratches spread this awful disease, which is particularly common in Thailand, Brazil and India.
Tick-borne Encephalitis – A tick-borne virus found in eastern, northern and central Europe as well as eastern Russia, east Asia, China and Japan.
Typhoid – Bacteria are responsible for this infection and it’s found throughout the world, a risk wherever sanitation and hygiene are poor.
A urinary tract Infection (UTI) can occur in any part of your urinary system. Women are at greatest risk with symptoms including a burning feeling when you urinate, a frequent urge to urinate, even though little comes out when you do and pain in your back or lower abdomen. In addition your urine in often cloudy, dark, smelly and may have blood in it.
Our Pharmacy is registered to treat some Urinary Tract Infections without having to visit your GP. If you are a woman between 16 - 65 years old, have not had antibiotic treatment for a urinary tract infection in the last 28 days and have not had more than three previous urinary infections in the last year please speak to our Pharmacist. The Pharmacist will discuss your symptoms and whether you are eligible for treatment directly from the Pharmacy.
We stock a popular range of vitamins and supplements aimed at nutrition, and women's and men's health.
We are here to help you make good choices. If you are struggling losing weight, please ask the pharmacist to help you beat the bulge.
The term obese describes a person who is very overweight. There are two ways of checking your weight status. Firstly, Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of whether you’re a healthy weight for your height. A BMI of > 25 means you are over-weight.
Another measure of excess fat is your waist circumference. Generally, men with a waist circumference of 94cm or more and women with a waist circumference of 80 cm or more are more likely to develop obesity related health problems. These include
Type 2 diabetes, Coronary heart disease, some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and bowel cancer and stroke. If you are worried about diabetes we can give you a diabetic test.
Obesity can also affect your quality of life and lead to psychological problems such as depression and low self-esteem. Please let us help you before your weight gets out of control.
We can offer weight management help. Pharmacists are ideally placed to help you manage your weight as they already provide many health services to customers, including stop smoking services, blood pressure and cholesterol measurements and general advice on nutrition and healthy living. Pharmacists also know when a weight problem can be managed in the pharmacy and when there is a medical problem that needs co-operation with the doctor.
Ask us for advice on how to get started.
If you’re between 40 and 74 and live in the UK, you should have a health check which we can do at our pharmacy for a nominal charge.
The health check should take around 30 minutes. A healthcare professional, will ask you a series of simple questions about your lifestyle and family history. The check is nothing to worry about and you won’t be asked any embarrassing questions or need to remove clothing.
You can also expect:
The Health Check focuses on:
If you are over 65, you will also be told the signs of dementia to look out for.
After your blood pressure test, sugar level test and BMI results, the Pharmacist will be happy to offer lifestyle advice or suggest you visit your GP, if needed. They might offer ideas on how to:
Heartburn and acid reflux are common problems for many adults. Often GSL and P medicines are not adequate in treating the symptoms, Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can be more effective treatments. Our service will save you a trip to the GP and can also be a cheaper alternative to certain medication available over the counter.
Acne can have a huge negative impact on self-confidence. If you are suffering from acne you may have tried products from the supermarket or from your local pharmacy which have not cleared your acne or in some cases, made it worse. We can provide clinically proven treatments for mild, moderate or severe acne.
An allergy is when your body reacts to a substance it has become sensitive to. For example, dust, food, pollen, medication etc. Allergens in food and other substances cause your body to have an immune reaction. Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions. In the UK alone, around 13 million people suffer from hay fever. Although it usually begins during childhood/teenage years, you can get it at any age.
The symptoms of hay fever occur when a person has had an allergic reaction to pollen. Some of the symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, wheezing, coughing etc. As much as we can try to avoid pollen, unfortunately, sometimes it is just not avoidable. Particularly in the summer when there is naturally more pollen around, and we tend to spend more time outside.
While there is currently no cure for hay fever, there is a way you can relieve the symptoms, at least to a certain extent. A range of antihistamines are available at our pharmacy to help you prevent an allergic reaction from happening. There are tablets, nasal sprays and even products to help soothe symptoms, for example, sprays for itchy eyes. We also offer Fexofenadine (Telfast) which is a prescription strength antihistamine for those that suffer greatly from hay fever. After a quick consult with our pharmacist, you can purchase this from our store to help soothe any symptoms.
As part of our specialised travel clinic we are able to offer acetazolamide, a medication that can prevent, as well as treat altitude sickness.
We offer a respiratory service for those suffering from asthma. Our service will save you from having to go to the GP every time to request a repeat for your salbutamol/Ventolin inhaler.
Check your blood pressure
The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test.
All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years. Getting this done is easy and could save your life.
You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including:
You can also check your blood pressure yourself with a home blood pressure monitor.
A simple blood test can help reduce your risk from some of the most serious conditions that typically show NO symptoms at all.
Blood screening is a medical process in which blood is scanned to test for a particular disease or condition. Although this procedure may be done for variety of reasons, the most common include Hepatitis screenings, pregnancy screenings, and screenings for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). The use of a blood screenings may also be needed to check for things like Vitamin D levels and food intolerance.
It is known that food can cause many different types of reactions in the body. These may be evident in the skin (such as hives, rashes, itchiness, or swellings); the gut (such as reflux, vomiting, tummy pains, wind, diarrhoea, and constipation); when breathing (such as shortness of breath or a tight chest) or through generally feeling unwell. Some people put up with symptoms for years, which could get better if the foods causing these symptoms were cut out of the diet.
"Knowing what you're allergic to is key to managing your condition"
Finding out which foods are causing your symptoms can be straightforward for some people and incredibly tricky for others, dependent on what their symptoms are; how quickly the symptoms appear after eating a food; and which food (or foods) is causing a problem. We have partnered up with one of the largest independent providers of clinical laboratory diagnostic services in the UK. So that we provide our customers with the laboratory information required for diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders. Our blood screening service is painless, quick and carried out with the utmost discretion. The types of screenings offered at Bush Pharmacy are shown below, prices are heavily discounted with further discounts available on request. Please call us on 0208-7439254 or pop into the pharmacy for more information.
TESTS AVAILABLE
The Full STI test includes:
The Food Intolerance tests a complete intolerance profile including trees, weeds, grasses, moulds, animals as well as foods
Blood glucose tests, which can be conducted in our pharmacy through a simple blood test, measure the amount of glucose in your blood. Glucose is a simple sugar that provides energy for the body. The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach). When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it's broken down to produce energy. However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there's either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced doesn't work properly.
Although there are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is often linked to being overweight.
PCR swab testing for COVID-19 is the most accurate (close to 100%) testing method available for an active infection. Nasal / Throat swabs collected using BD dry swabs. The turnaround time is 72 hours. The actual test is carried out in a separate, dedicated medical laboratory.
This test takes 30minute and done in the pharmacy £60
This test is to find out if you have been infected with the coronavirus in the past. Whole blood, serum or plasma can be used for testing. Results are available in 10 minutes, on site, in store.
As part of our sexual health clinic we provide a test 'n' treat service which includes rapid diagnosis through testing to confirm the prescence of chlamydia, followed by appropriate treatment where necessary. Often times this sexually transmitted infection will not show up any noticeable symptoms.
Prescription strength Otomize Ear Spray for ear infections without needing to see your GP
The emergency contraceptive pill (morning after pill) – there are two types, Levonelle or ellaOne. You can get both Levonelle and ellaOne free of charge from:
After consultation with a pharmacist you can buy emergency contraception from our pharmacy. Levonelle can be taken within 72 hours (three days) of having unprotected sex, but it's most effective if taken within 12 hours of having unprotected sex. Prices vary, but it's likely to cost around £25. You need to be 16 or over to buy Levonelle. Girls under 16 can get Levonelle, but only with a prescription from their doctor.
ellaOne can be taken within 120 hours (five days) of having unprotected sex, but it's most effective if taken as soon as possible after having unprotected sex. Prices vary, but it's likely to cost around £35. ellaOne can be sold to under 16s without a prescription.
Erection problems (impotence) are very common, particularly in men over 40. It's usually nothing to worry about, but you should see a GP if it keeps happening.
Most men occasionally fail to get or keep an erection. Causes of erection problems can be stress, tiredness, anxiety or drinking too much alcohol, and it's nothing to worry about.
If it happens more often, it may be caused by physical or emotional problems.
Medicine such as sildenafil is often used by doctors to treat erectile dysfunction. It is also available from our pharmacy. You no longer need a prescription to get sildenafil. You can have a private consultation with our pharmacist to make sure it's safe for you to take it.
Is hair loss causing you distress? Are you worried about what to do? Losing your hair can greatly affect your confidence and self-esteem. It is an issue that affects both men and women, with male pattern baldness being the most common form. Most men are affected by male pattern baldness as they get older, but unfortunately, some men do start to suffer much earlier in life. But for both men and women even signs of slight thinning can cause concerns.
Whether you are dealing with hair loss, or even if you just want to get a head start to help ensure your hair stays healthy for as long as possible, we offer a range of products for both men and women. From vitamins and supplements to foams and shampoos, we even have products to help conceal thinning hair.
One of the main hair loss treatments we also offer is Finasteride (Propecia). Men who suffer from male pattern baldness are sensitive to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, which causes damage to hair follicles. Finasteride (Propecia) is a prescription strength treatment that reduces the level of this particular hormone, and in turn reverses any balding. If you think you could benefit from this treatment come in store today, and speak to our pharmacist for a quick consultation to see if the treatment is suitable for you. If it is, you should be able to take the medication away with you that day. Please note, the medication is chargeable and is for men only.
Always keep in mind that hair regrowth isn’t instant and takes time. Results may vary from person to person and in some cases products must be used continuously to maintain the effects. But the earlier you start helping to maintain normal healthy hair growth, the better.
If you are worried about hair loss then come in store today and speak to a pharmacist about your options. Our pharmacists are trained to make sure they have the right knowledge and skills in order to help you with any concerns you may have.
-Strep A throat test
Streptococcus group A, are bacteria which infect the throat causing inflammation, sore throat redness and swollen glands
Only a small proportion of sore throat are caused by strep A and the strep A rapid test can confirm if the throat infection is bacteria, avoiding unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Our trained staff will take a throat swab and test for the presence of Strep A. We can also prescribe appropriate antibiotics or send a referral to your NHS doctor.
-C-reactive protein test
This is a blood test that can help differentiate between a viral or bacterial systemic infection.
Prescription strength melatonin (Circadin ) to treat jet lag without a prescription
Every year many hundreds of travellers from the UK catch malaria and in tens of cases it is fatal. Symptoms can start rapidly. The correct anti-malarial medication is essential. We offer a Private Malaria Prevention Service. After a confidential assessment by a trained Pharmacist, the correct anti-malarial medication is supplied and appropriate advice given to the patient.
Norethisterone to delay menstruation without seeing the GP
Prescription strength migraine treatment without having to see your GP
At My Private Chemist we care about your long term health and if you are a smoker who wants to quit, but think you need help to kick the habit, our award winning Stop Smoking Service might be just what you are looking for. We have had many successes over the years and wish to help you kick the habit.
We have an award-winning stop smoking service and our stop smoking success rates have been recognised by the health board, winning Pharmacy of the Year.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths accounting for more than 80,000 deaths each year. One in two smokers will die from a smoking related disease. If you could see the damage you would stop.
Circulation
When you smoke, the poisons from the tar in your cigarettes enter your blood. These poisons in your blood then:
Together these changes to your body when you smoke increase the chance of your arteries narrowing and clots forming which could lead to heart attack and stroke.
Stomach
Smokers have an increased chance of getting stomach cancer or ulcers. Smoking is a significant risk factor for developing kidney cancer and the more you smoke the greater the risk.
Skin
Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your skin. This means your skin ages more quickly and looks grey and dull. The toxins in your body also cause cellulite. Smoking prematurely ages your skin by between 10 and 20 years increasing wrinkling particularly around the eyes and mouth. The only way to prevent further deterioration is to stop smoking.
Bones
Smoking can cause your bones to become weak and brittle predisposing to brittle bones (osteoporosis).
Brain
Smokers are more likely to have a stroke than someone who doesn’t smoke. Within two years of stopping smoking your risk of stoke is reduced to half that of a smoker and within five years it will be the same as a non-smoker.
Lungs
Your lungs can be very badly affected by smoking. Coughs, colds, wheezing and asthma are just the start. Smoking can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia emphysema, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. You can slow down the progression of some of the diseases by stopping smoking.
With the rules and guidelines regarding passport photos constantly changing, you need a reliable photo printing service that can be flexible and continuously adapt. Here at JP Pharmacy we are Passport photo and Photo ID specialists, and we give our guarantee of a professional service.
As well as Passport photos, we take ID Photos for proof of age, student cards, driving licences etc. Our service is offered to both adults and children of any age.
Our ID and Passport photos are taken and printed while you wait. You can preview your photo before it is printed so you are 100% satisfied.
How can I delay my period?
There's no guaranteed way to delay your period, but it may be possible if you take the combined contraceptive pill. If you take a combined contraceptive pill, you can delay your period by taking 2 packets back-to-back.
How you do this will depend on which pill you take. Examples are:
Taking your contraceptive pills in the ways described above will not affect how they work as contraceptives. If you're not sure which pill you're on or which pills in the packet to miss out, speak to our pharmacist, community contraception clinic or GP.
Avoid taking more than 2 packs without a break, unless your GP says you can.
There's a risk you could experience side effects, such as:
Progestogen-only contraceptive pill
If you're taking a progestogen-only contraceptive pill, you cannot delay your period by taking 2 packets back-to-back. You may be able to switch to the combined contraceptive pill or take another medication to delay your period. If you're not sure which type of pill you're taking, speak to our pharmacist.
If you do not take a contraceptive pill
See your GP for advice if you want to delay your period and you're not taking the combined contraceptive pill.
After consultation our pharmacists are able to prescribe medication called norethisterone to delay your period, you will be advised you when to take norethisterone and for how long. You'll usually be prescribed 3 norethisterone tablets a day, starting 3 to 4 days before you expect your period to begin. Your period should arrive 2 to 3 days after you stop taking the medication. Please note, Norethisterone does not act as a contraceptive when used in this way, so you could still get pregnant. You'll need to use another type of contraceptive, such as a condom. Norethisterone may not be suitable if you have a history of blood clots.
How well it works in delaying periods also varies between women. Some women taking norethisterone have reported side effects, such as:
Switching to, or starting, the combined contraceptive pill
If you currently use another type of contraception, switching to the combined contraceptive pill will allow you to delay your period. You may also be able to start taking the combined pill if you do not already use contraception. You may need to start taking this pill several weeks before the time when you want to delay your period, and it's not suitable for everyone. If you're switching to or starting the combined contraceptive pill, you might need to use additional contraception during the first few days of taking it.
Ask our pharmacist for more information and advice.
Proctosedyl Suppositories and Ointment prescription strength treatment without the need to see your GP
We recommend you consider getting a flub jab If you don't qualify for an NHS vaccination but are:
This service is available on a walk in basis without an appointment and there is a charge but please call the pharmacy first.
Beclometasone treament for your scalp for severe dermatitis, exzema or psoriasis
Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.In our pharmacy we can do a test for a sore throat and consult for water infection and give antibiotics if appropriate-saving you an appointment with the GP.
How to treat a sore throat yourself
To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts you can:
To help relieve the pain and discomfort of a sore throat you can:
You can buy them from our pharmacy without a prescription.
Antibiotic tonsillitis treatment without a prescription or seeing your GP
Going abroad and need to know which vaccinations you require or need advice on precautions?
We provide travel consultations with experienced staff who will assess the impact of any pre-existing medical conditions on your vaccine requirements. Our competitive pricing and easily accessible location makes us your first choice for all your travel needs
Walk in for a free travel health consultation in our designated private consultation rooms today. We look forward to welcoming you and helping you with all your travel healthcare needs.
A pre-travel risk assessment provides a good opportunity to discuss travel-associated risk management with your pharmacist.
You'll need to contact us to arrange this, ideally 6 to 8 weeks before you leave. If your trip is sooner, contact us anyway as we may still be able to help and could provide vital health information.
During the assessment, we will:
Altitude Sickness - the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the negative health effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
Cholera – Common in Africa, Central America and Asia, cholera is an infection spread by bacteria in contaminated food and water.
Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis and Tetanus - This diphtheria, polio and tetanus vaccine may also be recommended if you're travelling to an area of the world where there is a high risk of contracting these diseases, or poor access to medical care, and you haven't had a booster in the last ten years.
Hepatitis A – Contaminated faecal matter spreads hepatitis A, a disease often caught via infected food and water and common across in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.
Hepatitis B – Unprotected sex is usually responsible for hepatitis A infection, along with sharing needles, visiting dirty tattoo parlours, unhygienic barbers shops and nail salons. It’s common in both undeveloped and developed countries.
Japanese Encephalitis – Spread by mosquitoes, there’s no cure for this disease found across South East Asia, Japan, and tropical regions of Australia. There are also occasional epidemics in China and India.
Malaria – A highly dangerous disease spread by infected mosquitoes, malaria is common in the equatorial tropics and subtropics.
Meningitis; ACWY Vaccination for Hajj or Umrah – A bacterial infection, this disease tends to be commonest in sub-Saharan Africa. But it’s also sometimes found where it’s crowded and where there’s imperfect hygiene, for example universities and army camps.
Rabies – Infected animal and human bites and scratches spread this awful disease, which is particularly common in Thailand, Brazil and India.
Tick-borne Encephalitis – A tick-borne virus found in eastern, northern and central Europe as well as eastern Russia, east Asia, China and Japan.
Typhoid – Bacteria are responsible for this infection and it’s found throughout the world, a risk wherever sanitation and hygiene are poor.
A urinary tract Infection (UTI) can occur in any part of your urinary system. Women are at greatest risk with symptoms including a burning feeling when you urinate, a frequent urge to urinate, even though little comes out when you do and pain in your back or lower abdomen. In addition your urine in often cloudy, dark, smelly and may have blood in it.
Our Pharmacy is registered to treat some Urinary Tract Infections without having to visit your GP. If you are a woman between 16 - 65 years old, have not had antibiotic treatment for a urinary tract infection in the last 28 days and have not had more than three previous urinary infections in the last year please speak to our Pharmacist. The Pharmacist will discuss your symptoms and whether you are eligible for treatment directly from the Pharmacy.
We stock a popular range of vitamins and supplements aimed at nutrition, and women's and men's health.
We are here to help you make good choices. If you are struggling losing weight, please ask the pharmacist to help you beat the bulge.
The term obese describes a person who is very overweight. There are two ways of checking your weight status. Firstly, Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of whether you’re a healthy weight for your height. A BMI of > 25 means you are over-weight.
Another measure of excess fat is your waist circumference. Generally, men with a waist circumference of 94cm or more and women with a waist circumference of 80 cm or more are more likely to develop obesity related health problems. These include
Type 2 diabetes, Coronary heart disease, some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and bowel cancer and stroke. If you are worried about diabetes we can give you a diabetic test.
Obesity can also affect your quality of life and lead to psychological problems such as depression and low self-esteem. Please let us help you before your weight gets out of control.
We can offer weight management help. Pharmacists are ideally placed to help you manage your weight as they already provide many health services to customers, including stop smoking services, blood pressure and cholesterol measurements and general advice on nutrition and healthy living. Pharmacists also know when a weight problem can be managed in the pharmacy and when there is a medical problem that needs co-operation with the doctor.
Ask us for advice on how to get started.
Please bear with us. We are exceptionally busy and are re-organising our services.
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