Ear Ache/Ear Infection
Community Pharmacy or Face to Face Consultation
Ages 5-17 years: Direct to pharmacy first service (Exclusions: Recurrent infections (3 or more in 6/12, 4 or more in 12/12), Pregnant individuals under 16 years)
Aged 18+ years: Book an amber appointment
Book a red face to face appointment if:
- High fever/hot or shivery
- Discharging ear/s
- Patient is immunocompromised (e.g. on chemotherapy, HIV patient)
- External ear is red and swollen
Ear Wax
Community Pharmacy
Advise ear syringing is not available on the NHS locally.
Patients advised to self refer privately.
We are unable to recommend private services.
Eczema
Community Pharmacy or Face to Face Consultation
Send patients to pharmacy for advice and product purchase.
Book a green appointment if OTC treatments have not worked
Book a red appointment if signs of infected eczema:
- Fever
- Eczema has become blistered, weeping or pus seen
- The eczema has become painful, swollen or feels hot to touch
- The eczema suddenly gets worse or gets bigger/spreads
Elbow Pain
Musculoskeletal Specialist or Face to Face Consultation
Book appointment with MSK specialist
Care
If the pain started after recent trauma advise to attend urgent care / A&E
Book an amber appointment if the patient is not coping with current pain levels and/or there are “medical” causes for the pain or if they are under 16 years of age.
Book a red appointment if there is a possible infected joint (i.e. sudden severe joint pain, feverish, new red hot swollen joint).
Emergency Contraception
Community Pharmacy or Face to Face Consultation
Send patients to pharmacy for advice and product purchase.
The window for directing to the pharmacy is 72 hours
Patients can also be directed to local family planning/GUM services
Book a red appointment if the time for pharmacy review has passed or aged under 16 years old
Endometriosis
Face to Face Consultation
Book a green appointment
Epilepsy
Face to Face Consultation
Book a green appointment if patient wishes to discuss their epilepsy in general
Seizure
If patient is having seizure at time of call: Ring 999
Otherwise for all other issues related to seizures (such as recent seizure/becoming more frequent) to book a red appointment with a clinician.
Erection Difficulties
Face to Face Consultation
Book a green appointment
Excessive Sweating
Community Pharmacy or Face to Face Consultation
Send patients to pharmacy for advice and product purchase.
Book a green appointment with a clinician if OTC treatments have failed
Eye Problem
Community Pharmacy or Face to Face Consultation
Conjunctivitis
Send to pharmacy for advice and product purchase
Book a green appointment if OTC treatment has failed
Dry Eyes
Direct to optician or book a green appointment
Eye Trauma
Direct to A+E/Urgent Care
Foreign Body In Eye
Direct to A+E/Urgent Care
Light Sensitivity (Photophobia)
See meningitis and sepsis pages for more guidance
If no other features of meningitis or sepsis book a red appointment
Red or Painful Eye
Book a red appointment
Sudden Change in Vision
Book a red appointment
e.g. sudden loss or change in vision in one or both eyes
Visual Changes
Direct to optician if eye sight concerns
If associated with other symptoms such as headache go to relevant symptom page
Watery Eyes
Book a green appointment