NHS Pharmacy First Treatment for Earache (Children & Young People)

If your child has earache, you may not need to wait for a GP appointment.
Under the NHS Pharmacy First service, trained pharmacists can assess ear pain, provide clinical advice, and offer treatment where appropriate.

This service is designed to help families get fast, same-day care for common ear conditions — without long waits, missed school, or time off work.

Who can use Pharmacy First for earache?

Pharmacy First earache consultations are available for:

• Children and young people aged 1 to 17 years
• New onset ear pain or discomfort
• Mild to moderate symptoms where urgent hospital care is not required

Our pharmacists follow NHS clinical pathways to ensure safe and appropriate care.

Symptoms that may be assessed

Your child may be suitable for a Pharmacy First earache consultation if they have:

• Ear pain or discomfort
• Ear pulling or irritability (in younger children)
• Reduced hearing
• Fever associated with ear pain
• Recent cold or upper respiratory infection

Leaving ear infections untreated can lead to worsening pain, sleep disruption, school absence, and further complications — which is why early assessment matters.

What can the pharmacist do?

During your visit, the pharmacist will:

• Assess symptoms using NHS-approved clinical questions
• Check for signs that require GP or hospital referral
• Provide self-care and pain relief advice
• Supply treatment where clinically appropriate under NHS guidelines
• Refer safely if symptoms fall outside Pharmacy First criteria

This ensures your child receives the right care, at the right time, in the right setting.

Why parents choose Pharmacy First

• No GP appointment required
• Same-day access at local NHS pharmacies
• Private consultation rooms
• Clinically trained pharmacy teams
• Less disruption to work and school routines

For many families, Pharmacy First avoids days of discomfort while waiting for an appointment.

Find your local Pharmacy First earache service

Earache consultations are available at our participating NHS pharmacies:

• Holden’s Chemist Scawsby – Doncaster
• Holden’s Chemist Bentley – Doncaster
• Holden’s Chemist Newark – Nottinghamshire
• Sherwood Avenue Pharmacy – Newark

Each location offers private consultation rooms and trained clinical staff.

When to seek urgent medical help

Pharmacy First is not suitable if your child has:

• Severe ear pain or swelling around the ear
• Discharge or bleeding from the ear
• Symptoms lasting more than a few days without improvement
• Signs of serious illness or worsening infection

In these cases, the pharmacist will advise immediate GP or urgent care referral.

Book or visit today

If your child has earache, don’t wait unnecessarily.

Visit your local Holden’s NHS pharmacy or book a Pharmacy First consultation to receive fast, professional advice and treatment where appropriate.