Strep A and the risk it poses have been big news in recent weeks. GPs surgeries have been beset with calls from people with concerns about their sore throat. However, there is a way that you can get tested for a bacterial infection in your throat and get the antibiotics you need without going to the doctor.
In Wales the sore throat test and treat service allows patients who have a sore throat to call into their local pharmacy.
Under the scheme, a trained pharmacist will assess your symptoms, and where appropriate, will test using a quick and pain free test which will swab your throat. The pharmacist will ask you some questions to decide if you need a throat swab and complete a clinical assessment. Not everyone will need a throat swab and if your answers suggest it is a viral infection, a swab may not be necessary.
Following a consultation and assessment by the pharmacist, medication may be supplied for those patients where an antibiotic is required. 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.
It is important to stress that this is not a Strep A screening service and patients with "red flag symptoms" should go to the GP or A&E. A Public Health Wales spokeswoman said: "Some pharmacies in some areas of Wales provide a “sore throat test and treat” service. The service is intended for patients aged six years and over with symptoms of acute, uncomplicated sore throat – it’s not a ‘strep A screening service’. Patients with any ‘red flag’ symptoms, such as a rash, persistent high temperature or muffled voice, will be referred to GP or A&E as appropriate."
You need to bear in mind the following:
- Patients must be over 6 years old
- Patients can’t be tested if they have other symptoms, such as a cough
- It’s only designed/intended to manage acute sore throats
- It’s not a screening service, so they will only test if they have a sore throat
Which pharmacies are taking part?
Not every pharmacy in Wales is taking part in the scheme. Below is a breakdown of the participating pharmacies by health board area:
Swansea Bay Health Board
- Vale of Neath Pharmacy, Chain Road
- Resolven Pharmacy Ltd, Ynysfach Avenue
- Davies Chemists (Briton Ferry) Ltd, The Pharmacy
- Neath Pharmacy, 32 Orchard Street
- Medihub Pharmacy, 71 St. Teilo Street
- Gowerton Pharmacy, 22 Mill Street
- Lloyds Pharmacy, 2 Heol-Y-Nant
- Knights Cwmfelin Pharmacy, 298 Carmarthen Road
- Treboeth Pharmacy, 697 Llangyfelach Road
- Overdrake Ltd, 40 Neath Road
- Kevin Thomas Chemist, Killay Medical Centre
- Tawe Pharmacy, 9 Thomas Street
- Kevin Thomas Pharmacy, 45 St Helens Road
- Kevin Thomas Pharmacy, 12 Newton Road
- Davies Chemists (Briton Ferry) Ltd, 103 Neath Road
- Well, 9 Graiglwyd Square
- Well, 118 Ravenhill Road
- Well, 8A Alderwood Road
- Well, 103 Woodfield Street
- Well, 38 The Kingsway
- Well, 55 Uplands Crescent
- Well, 63 Alexandra Road
- Well, 59 Herbert Street
- Well, 2 Alexandra Road
- Well, Mill Street
- Well, The Beacon Centre For Health
Hywel Dda
Carmarthenshire:
- Morris E.M. (Chemist) Ltd. The Pharmacy, 51 Station Road, Brynamman
- Burry Port Pharmacy, 11a Station Road, Burry Port
- Morrison's In-store Pharmacy, Pensarn Park, Carmarthen
- Nigel Williams Pharmacy, Furnace House Surgery, Carmarthen
- Walter Lloyd & Son Pharmacy, 12 Lammas Street, Carmarthen
- Cross Hands Pharmacy, 6 Llandeilo Road, Cross Hands
- Nigel Williams Pharmacy, Isfryn, Carmarthen Road, Cross Hands
- M W Phillips Pharmacy, 2 Maescanner Road, Dafen
- Aman Pharmacy, 70 Cwmamman Road, Glanamman
- Garnant Pharmacy, 115 Cwmamman Road, Garnant
- M W Phillips Pharmacy, 1 Iscoed Road, Hendy
- Davies Chemists (Briton Ferry) Ltd, Avenue Villa Surgery, Brynmor Road, Llanelli
- Machynys Pharmacy, Machynys Surgery, The Avenue, Morfa, Llanelli
- Gravells Pharmacy, Thomas Street, Llanelli
- Ty Elli Pharmacy, Vauxhall, Llanelli
- Well Pharmacy, 150-152 Station Road, Llanelli
- Well Pharmacy, Llwynhendy Health Centre, Llwynhendy
- Gofal Healthcare, 8 Bridge Street, Penygroes
- P. Griffiths Pharmacy Ltd, 2 Heol Meinciau, Pontyates
- Evans Pharmacy, Medical Hall, Pentre Road, St Clears
- Well Pharmacy, 1 Heol Llanelli, Trimsaran
- Nigel Williams Pharmacy, 35 Heol y Neuadd, Tumble
Ceredigion
- Lloyds Pharmacy, 2 Alban Square, Aberaeron
- Penrhyn Pharmacy, Banc Y Dyffryn, Aberporth
- Caerleon Pharmacy, 23 Pendre, Cardigan
Pembrokeshire
- The Pharmacy, Tenby Road, Crymych
- Myrtle Pharmacy, Goodwick Square, Goodwick
- Lloyds Pharmacy, The Health Centre, Northfield Road, Narberth
- Newport Pharmacy, 2 Market Street, Newport
- Mendus Pharmacy, 31 Main Street, Pembroke
- Well Pharmacy, 13-14 Cross Square, St David
- Evans Pharmacy – Seafront, 6 High Street, Tenby
Powys
- Davies Pharmacy (Gurnos),
- JG & RJ Davies (Ystradgynlais),
- Well Pharmacy
- Llanwrtyd Pharmacy
- Llanidloes Pharmacy, Rowlands Pharmacy (Welshpool)
Aneurin Bevan
Blaenau Gwent
- H Shackleton Ltd Riverside Pharmacy, Cwm Hir Road, Beaufort, Ebbw Vale, Gwent, NP23 5NT
- Llanhilleth Pharmacy 21-23 Commercial Road, Abertillery, NP13 2JA
- Nelson`s Pharmacy 4 Morgan Street, Tredegar, Gwent, NP22 3NA
- TH Prichard & Son Ltd 48 Church Street, Abertillery, NP13 1DB
- TH Prichard & Son Ltd Medical Hall, 31 Somerset Street, Abertillery, Gwent, NP13 1XT
- TH Prichard & Son Ltd 102-103 High Street, Blaina, Abertillery, NP13 3AE
- Tredegar Health Centre Pharmacy Tredegar Health Centre, Park Row, Tredegar, NP22 3NG
- Well The Health Centre, Bridge Street, Ebbw Vale, NP23 6EY
- Well 6 Marine Street, Cwm, Ebbw Vale, NP23 7ST
- Well The Health Centre, James Street, Ebbw Vale, NP23 6JG
- Well Brynmawr Wellbeing Centre, Blaenavon Road, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, NP23 4BR
Caerphilly
- Bargoed Pharmacy 9 Under Cardiff Road, Bargoed, CF81 8WZ
- Evans Pharmacy - Abercarn 1&2 Victoria Buildings, High Street, Abercarn, Newport, NP11 5GR
- Mayberry Pharmacy 175 High Street, Blackwood, Gwent, NP12 1AA
- Nelson`s Pharmacy Nantgarw Road Medical Centre, 4 Beddau Way, Caerphilly, CF83 2AX
- Sheppards Pharmacy 14-16 Commercial Street, Nelson, Treharris, CF46 6NF
- Sheppards Pharmacy White Rose Way, New Tredegar, NP24 6AS
- Sheppards Pharmacy 50 Commercial Street, Aberbargoed, Bargoed, CF81 9BU
- Troed-y-Bryn Pharmacy Heol Aneurin, Penyrheol, Caerphilly, CF83 2PX
- Vida Rogers Ltd 26 Commercial Street, Aberbargoed, Bargoed, CF81 9BW
- Well Rhymney Integrated Resource Centre, Rhymney, Tredegar, NP22 5PW
- Well 55-56 Tredegar Street, Risca, Newport, NP11 6BW
- Well 36 High Street, Llanbradach, Caerphilly, CF83 3LQ
- Well The Bryn, Trethomas, Caerphilly, CF83 8GP
- Well 26 Church Street, Bedwas, Caerphilly, CF83 8EB
Monmouthshire
- Bulwark Pharmacy 45/47 Bulwark Road, Chepstow, NP16 5JW
- Chappells Pharmacy 28 Newport Road, Caldicot, NP26 4BQ
- H Shackleton Ltd 1 Nevill Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5AA
- H Shackleton Ltd 33 & 35 Brecon Road, Abergavenny, NP7 5UH
- Magor Pharmacy The Pink House, The Square, Magor, Caldicot, NP26 3HY
- Portskewett Pharmacy The Old School House, Main Road, Portskewett, Caldicot, NP26 5SA
- Richeld Pharmacy 17 Newport Road, Caldicot, NP26 4BG
- Well 108 Monnow Street, Monmouth, NP25 3EQ
Newport
- Giles Pharmacy 432 Chepstow Road, Newport, NP19 8JG
- J.D.S. Evans Chemist Bellevue Terrace, Newport, NP20 2LB
- Malpas Pharmacy 361 Malpas Road, Newport, NP20 6WB
- Mayberry Pharmacy Ltd 103 Durham Road, Newport, NP19 7DP
- Pill Pharmacy 44 Commercial Road, Newport, NP20 2PE
- Well The Rogerstone Practice, Western Valley Road, Chapelwood, Rogerstone, Newport, NP10 9DU
- Well 175 Caerleon Road, Newport, NP19 7FX
- Well Wednesday House, High Street, Caerleon, Newport, NP18 1AZ
- Well 4 Clytha Park Road, Clytha Park, Newport, NP20 4NZ
- Well 262 Chepstow Road, Newport, NP19 8NL
- Well 7-9 Kelvedon Street, Newport, NP19 0DW
Torfaen
- Abersychan Pharmacy 14-15 Broad Street, Abersychan, Pontypool, Torfaen , NP4 7BQ
- Blaenavon Pharmacy Middle Coed Cae Road, Blaenavon, Pontypool, NP4 9AW
- New Inn Pharmacy 110 The Highway, New Inn, Pontypool, NP4 0PJ
- Shil Pharmacy Leadon Court, Thornhill, Cwmbran, NP44 5TZ
- Well 14 Broad Street, Blaenavon, Pontypool, NP4 9ND
- Well Stanley Road, Garndiffaith, Pontypool, NP4 7LH
Betsi Cadwaldr, Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf
People in these areas are asked to use this link to check their nearest participating pharmacy.
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