Pharmacy First: Shingles

Pharmacy First is a service commissioned by the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) and is free of charge for patients. The service encourages patients to consult with a participating Community Pharmacy, rather than their GP, for a defined list of common conditions. 

This Pharmacy First Service for Shingles will facilitate the assessment and treatment of patients aged 18 years and over, in the Community Pharmacy.

Please note that temporary residents of Northern Ireland, or Patients in Care Homes (Nursing or Residential) are not eligible for this service.

Pilot Service:

The Pharmacy First Service for Shingles is a pilot service, and is available in 15 branches of Gordons Chemists, across Northern Ireland:

Belfast - 
Gordons Chemists, 13 Greenway, Cregagh Road, BT5 5FB
Gordons Chemists, 35/45 Castlereagh Road, BT4 3LH

Antrim -
Gordons Chemists, Castle Mall Shopping Centre, BT41 4DN

Ballymoney -
Gordons Chemists, 9 Main Street, BT53 6AN

Banbridge -
Gordons Chemists, 19 Newry Street, BT32 3EA

Bangor -
Gordons Chemists, Ashbury Shopping Centre, BT19 2TH

Cookstown - 
Gordons Chemists, 6 Oldtown Street, BT80 8EF

Enniskillen - 
Gordons Chemists, 3 High Street, BT74 7DH

Limavady -
Gordons Chemists, 57/61 Main Street, BT49 0EP

Lisburn -
Gordons Chemists, 54-56 Bow Street, BT28 1BN

Lurgan -
Gordons Chemists, 10 Market Street, BT66 6AQ

Newcastle -
Gordons Chemists, 16 Railway Street, BT33 0AL

Omagh - 
Gordons Chemists, 30 Market Street, BT78 1EH

Portadown -
 Gordons Chemists, High Street Mall, BT62 1HX

Warrenpoint -
Gordons Chemists, 11 Church Street, BT34 3HN

About Shingles:

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection of an individual nerve and the skin surface served by the nerve (dermatome). It is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Following a chickenpox infection, which typically occurs during childhood, the varicella-zoster virus lies dormant in the dorsal root ganglia and can reactivate when the immune system is weakened. A shingles infection generally occurs decades after the primary (chickenpox) infection.

The symptoms/skin rash of a shingles infection is usually localized to a specific dermatome (a dermatome is a strip of skin which is supplied by a ‘single nerve ending’)

FREE, CONFIDENTIAL & DISCREET

Following a private consultation the pharmacist will give advice and, if appropriate, supply medication free of charge, or refer the patient to the GP if necessary.