The Sore Throat Test and Treat scheme allows patients (over age of six years) to call into this pharmacy and be tested by a trained pharmacist using a quick and pain free throat swab (where indicated). You will have a short consultation where we will establish if the cause might be bacterial and if this is the case then you will be offered a swab test. The test involves taking a simple throat swab and testing the sample for the bacterium Streptococcus A (‘Strep throat’). The pharmacist will provide you with suitable treatment and advice for your condition.

Following a consultation and assessment by the pharmacist, we can supply paracetamol and/or ibuprofen if required, or an antibiotic if the throat swab indicates Strep A.

In many cases, a sore throat is the result of a viral rather than bacterial infection which means antibiotics will not work, and self-care and rest are the best course of action.

Antibiotics are an important class of drugs that should only be used for serious bacterial infections. If they are used when they are not required, they can lose their efficacy, also known as antibiotic resistance. It’s therefore important that you only take antibiotics when necessary and with accordance to the instructions from the prescriber.

Ask in store for the sore throat test and treatment service. If your sore throat doesn’t get better or it gets worse, you should contact your doctor.