London Pharmacy opening hours for Christmas and New Year Holidays 2024/2025

Bank Holidays can affect the opening hours of local pharmacies. This document provides the opening hours for pharmacies in London which have been asked to open over the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday Days. There may be additional pharmacies opening which are not listed. If the pharmacy you would like to visit is not listed here, then you can check their opening hours by searching at www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy or by calling NHS 111. In addition, there will be some pharmacies who normally open who may be closed or closing early on Tuesday 24th December 2024 and Tuesday 31st December 2024. If you are unsure, please visit www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy or call NHS 111.

Borough	Pharmacy Name	Address	Postcode	Telephone	Christmas Day 25th Dec 2024	Boxing Day 26th Dec 2023	New Year’s Day 1st January 2024
Croydon	Mayday Pharmacy	514 London Road	CR7 7HQ	020 8689 9345	09:00-22:00	09:00-22:00	09:00-22:00
	Osbon Pharmacy (St.Clare)	21 Norfolk House, George Street, Croydon	CR0 1LG	020 8688 9133	10:00-18:00	11:00-17:00	11:00-17:00
	Foxley Lane Pharmacy	32 Foxley Lane Purley	CR8 3EE	020 8668 6891	10:00-18:00	10:00-14:00	10:00-14:00
Kingston	Boots	19 Victoria Rd, Surbiton, Surrey	KT6 4JZ	020 8399 2715	CLOSED	11:00-15:00	11:00-15:00
	PSM Pharmacy	388 Ewell Road, Surbiton	KT6 7BB	020 8399 3165	10:00-18:00	14:00-18:00	14:00-18:00
Merton	A P Chemist Ltd	129 High Street Colliers Wood, London	SW19 2HR	020 8542 3221	10:00-18:00	10:00-14:00	10:00-14:00
	Sterling Chemist	21-23 Wimbledon Hill Road, Wimbledon. London	SW19 7NE	020 8947 8803	10:00-18:00	12:00-16:00	12:00-16:00
Richmond	K C Pharmacy	23 Broad Street, Teddington	TW11 8QZ	020 8977 1351	10:00-18:00	14:00-18:00	14:00-18:00
	Boots the Chemist	60-64 George Street, Richmond	TW9 1HF	020 8940 1691	CLOSED	11:00-15:00	11:00-15:00
Sutton	Sutton & Merton Out of Hours	28 The Market Wrythe Lane, Carshalton	SM5 1AG	020 8644 9589	10:00-22:00	10:00-22:00	10:00-22:00
	Victoria Chemists	524 London Road, North Cheam	SM3 8HW	020 8287 4777	10:00-18:00	12:00-16:00	12:00-16:00
	Boots the Chemist	109-111 High Street, Sutton	SM1 1JG	020 8642 7575	CLOSED	11:00-15:00	11:00-15:00
Wandsworth	Tooting Pharmacy	175 Upper Tooting Road	SW17 7TJ	020 8672 5843	10:00-18:00	14:00-18:00	14:00-18:00
	Boots the Chemist	95-99 Southside Shopping Centre, Wandsworth	SW18 4TG	020 8874 5704	CLOSED	11:00-15:00	11:00-15:00

Think ‘Pharmacy First’ – New Advanced Pharmacy Service Now Available Across Croydon

Pharmacy First | Croydon

The new Pharmacy First scheme enables your local pharmacy to treat some common conditions with prescription-only medicines, without you visiting your GP.

The NHS has launched a major transformation to try and make it easier for patients to access the care they need.

What is Pharmacy First?

The Pharmacy First Scheme means that patients across England can now get prescription-only treatment for seven common conditions at their local high street pharmacy, without needing to see a GP.

This can include prescribing and supplying antibiotics and antivirals where clinically appropriate.

What can Pharmacy First treat?

Your local pharmacy can now supply prescription-only treatment, if they believe you need it, for the following conditions:

 

• sinusitis (for patients aged 12 years and over only)
• sore throat (aged 5+)
• earache (aged 1 year-17)
• infected insect bite (aged 1 year+)
• impetigo (aged 1 year +)
• shingles (aged 18 years+)
• uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (aged 16-64 years)

How does Pharmacy First work?

If you are feeling unwell with any of these conditions, you can go to your local participating pharmacy and ask for a private consultation with the pharmacist.

You may also be referred by a GP practice if they don’t have any appointments and believe your pharmacy can help. The 111 helpline service may also refer you. Pharmacists can also offer this service on-the-spot if you go in asking generally for help.

Pharmacists may offer a virtual consultation by phone or video call, or in person in a private room in the pharmacy. They will ask questions, may perform an examination and must get your consent to access your medical records. The pharmacist will be able to recommend the best course of action based on your clinical needs. This might include issuing prescriptions for antibiotics or antivirals where necessary or advising you on over-the-counter treatments that could help.

What are the benefits of the scheme?

There are many benefits to the new scheme, helping to make care easier and more accessible. These benefits include:

• Participating pharmacies must offer the service during all their opening hours including any late nights or weekends.
• It may be quicker to see your pharmacist than waiting for an appointment with your GP.
• Pharmacy First – along with expanded Blood Pressure Check and Oral Contraception services at pharmacies – could free up to 10 million GP appointments a year.

How can my pharmacist supply a prescription-only medicine if they are not a doctor?

Pharmacists must follow a strict NHS protocol (called a ‘patient group direction’) covering their own required knowledge and skills the types of patients covered.

This means that the supply of prescription-only medicines will be limited in all cases by age groups, and in one case, by gender.

Will I have to pay for my advice or medication?

The appointment and advice from a pharmacist are free to access.

If you are recommended an over-the-counter medication, you will pay the costs of buying this.

If you are supplied with a prescription-only medication, usual prescription charges would apply unless you qualify for free prescriptions.

If you regularly require medication and are not exempt from prescription charges, you may be able to save money through a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). Find out what help you can get to pay for your prescriptions.

How do I know if my local pharmacy is participating?

Most pharmacies have agreed in principle to deliver the new service but may launch at different times, from 31 January 2024 onwards. They may need to train staff, upgrade IT and install a private consultation room.

Can I get oral contraception without a prescription?

From December 2023, some pharmacies will be able to start women on oral contraception (also known as ‘the Pill’) for the first time, or re-start them after a break, without the person needing to see their GP first. This is an extension of the existing oral contraception service that let women go to pharmacies for repeat prescriptions, that had been initiated first by a GP.

The pharmacist will offer a confidential consultation to discuss your current medication and ensure it is the best option for your needs.

Oral contraception is free on the NHS, and you will not be charged any prescription charges.

To find a local pharmacy offering this service – check out the NHS website. 

Can I still see my GP?

You can still choose to visit your GP if you prefer. Pharmacy First simply offers an alternative route for getting treatment for these specific conditions.