As a key partner of the NHS, we deliver services that are designed to meet the specific needs of our customers and patients in their local communities. We aim to be the first choice for all healthcare needs and offering the following types of services is just one way that we can extend our expertise to our customers.
NHS pharmacy services available at Boots UK
-
New Medicine Service*
This free NHS service (only available in England) helps patients to get the most out of their newly prescribed medicine. It is targeted at patients who have been prescribed a new medicine for certain long term conditions such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure amongst others. You can find out more about the new medicines service here.
-
Stop Smoking Service
Some Boots pharmacies are able to provide customers with advice and products to help them stop smoking. Where necessary, our pharmacists can help identify the most suitable Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for our customers. NRT has been shown to double a person's chances of quitting smoking.
In some of our pharmacies, customers can have a Smokerlyser test to measure how much carbon monoxide they have in their breath and in our larger flagship stores, customers are able to have a 'real lung age' test.
NRT and other products are available to purchase in all of our pharmacies. Many of our pharmacies also offer NHS-funded stop smoking services.*†
-
Minor Ailments Service
This service is for people who don't pay for their prescriptions and allows them to receive advice and medicines for a range of minor ailments, free of charge without having to visit their GP first. Examples of minor ailments covered as part of the service include headache, hay fever, coughs and colds.
This service is currently available in all Boots pharmacies across Scotland (Pharmacy First), Northern Ireland (Pharmacy First), Wales (Common Ailments) and from selected Boots pharmacies in England.
-
Drug User Service
Our services for drug users reduce the risk of them contracting infections and, causing harm to them. Substance misuse has a major impact on individuals, families and the community.
The service helps to engage users in their drug treatment and reduce drug related harm and crime via supervised consumption of heroin substitutes and by offering needle and syringe exchange schemes.
This service is available from selected pharmacies across England, Wales and Scotland.
-
Locally commissioned services
Many of our pharmacies will also offer a range of services commissioned locally by NHS primary care organisations.
* Eligibility criteria apply. Subject to pharmacist availability
† Charges may apply
Boots UK pharmacy services
-
Boots Smoke Less plan
Our Smoke Less plan gives customers access to a Boots Smoking Advisor who will work alongside them to put together a personalised action plan as well as continue to provide one-to-one support to help customers reach their goals of stopping smoking or cutting down. You can find out more about the plan here.
-
Winter Flu Jab Service*
We provide a free NHS (or other locally funded) flu jab service* in most of our stores subject to the eligibility criteria. Alternatively, if customers are not eligible for the NHS service, they can book our private service**^, which is available in most stores for people aged 16+ and in selected stores for children aged 11 to 15‡.
The best way to help protect yourself and others from flu is to have the flu jab every year. Over time, protection from the flu jab gradually decreases and flu strains can change, which means a previous flu jab may not protect individuals from this year's strains.
As well as providing a free and private winter flu jab service, we also offer a corporate flu jab service for organisations to help keep team members and employees healthy. You can find out more about the corporate flu jab service here.
*The free NHS (or other locally funded) flu jab is available in most Boots pharmacies in England and Wales and in some Boots pharmacies in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Jersey. Also available in our Isle of Man pharmacy. Eligibility criteria apply and vary with locality. Subject to availability. Some people who do not meet the requirements for a free NHS (or other locally funded) flu jab in pharmacies can access the flu jab from their GP or in Scotland, at a vaccination centre.
**The Boots private Winter Flu Jab Service is available at over 1,950 Boots stores. Subject to specially trained pharmacist and stock availability. Eligibility criteria apply. See boots.com/flu for more details. Speak to a member of our pharmacy team or see boots.com/flu for more details.
^Injectable vaccine, £16.99 (or £21.99 in Jersey)
‡Some areas provide a free flu vaccination programme in schools, which may include some secondary year groups
~Information above correct as of 11th October 2022
-
Travel Vaccinations and Health Advice Service*
The Travel Vaccinations and Health Advice Service is available in 170 stores across the UK. Our specially-trained travel health pharmacists can provide advice and information on vaccinations and access to antimalarial medicines tailored to you and your trip. We also offer a broad range of vaccinations, including yellow fever, and can provide prescription only antimalarials where appropriate after an online consultation reviewed by one of our team of clinicians, without needing to visit the GP. Evening, weekend and early morning appointments are available, or consultations may be available on a walk in basis (depending on store opening hours).
Click here to check online whether you should consider vaccinations or antimalarials for your trip and book an appointment.
* As at 31 May 2015
-
Malaria Prevention Service*
Most Boots pharmacies offer the Malaria Prevention Service, can advise on high risk areas for malaria and bite prevention, and supply a range of antimalarial options tailored to each individual’s trip and medical details. We can even generate a private prescription for prescription only medicines where appropriate after an online consultation reviewed by one of our team of clinicians. Patients do not need to book and can access the service seven days a week in some stores, including early mornings and evenings.
-
Hair Retention Programme*
The hair retention programme is a pharmacist-led professional programme. It is for men aged 18 and over with hair loss due to male pattern baldness.
The programme involves the following:
- An initial consultation and assessment with a Boots pharmacist who is fully trained to give advice relevant to the customer's specific hair retention needs
- If suitable, an effective hair retention medicine, with detailed instructions on how the medicine works and how to take it, can be supplied
- Follow-up reviews with a Boots pharmacist
The hair retention programme is available from larger Boots stores. You can find out more about the programme here.
-
Erectile Dysfunction Service*
The erectile dysfunction (ED) service is available in larger Boots stores nationwide. It is available for men over 30 and up to 65 years of age and allows them to talk confidentially with one of our ED trained pharmacists. The service is provided through a patient group direction, developed by our Independent Medical Agency who are registered with and regulated by the Care Quality Commission and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority – this is a means by which our specifically trained pharmacists can legally supply a prescription only medicine where appropriate. You can find out more about the programme here.
-
Cervical Cancer Vaccination Service*
We offer a cervical cancer vaccination for our customers to help protect against the most common causes of cervical cancer as a result of the HPV virus in a small number of our pharmacies. You can find out about who can access the service, how much it costs and how to get it here.
-
Online Clinics
Boots online clinics provide an opportunity to obtain effective prescription treatments without a trip to the surgery. By completing an online consultation on boots.com, patients can get access to appropriate prescription only medicines,( if the service is suitable for them ) without the need for a trip to the doctor's surgery.
A range of online clinics and consultations are available for a variety of patient needs including:
* Eligibility criteria apply. Subject to pharmacist availability. Charges apply
Boots and Macmillan Cancer Support services
We have been working with Macmillan Cancer Support since 2009 to ensure that everyone across the UK, personally or indirectly affected by cancer, can access cancer information and support in their local community. This includes the provision of two unique community roles:
-
Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists
Our Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists are specialist trained pharmacists who are able to give advice and support for people affected by cancer from an accessible and trusted community location. Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists are also able to connect patients and their families to cancer information services, experts in their local community, and wider Macmillan Cancer Support services.
-
Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors
Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors are No7 advisors who are trained to offer practical makeup skills to help disguise and manage the visible effects of changes brought about by cancer treatment.
You can find out more about our partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support here.
NHS services are provided under different legislation in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Please ask our pharmacy teams about the availability of services in your area and which are appropriate for you.