Kiveton Pharmacy
See a Pharmacist Today —
No GP Needed
Our trained pharmacists can assess and treat 7 common conditions on the NHS, completely free.
Step 1 of 3 — Your details
Consultation Submitted
Thank you. Your Pharmacy First request has been received. A pharmacist at Kiveton Pharmacy will review your details and contact you shortly.
If your condition worsens before you hear from us, please call 111 or attend A&E.
Return to homepageEarache in children — free NHS treatment at Kiveton Pharmacy
Middle ear infections (acute otitis media) are very common in children. Under NHS Pharmacy First, our pharmacists can check your child’s ear and advise on the right care, free and without a GP appointment.
Who can be seen
- Children and young people aged 1 to 17 years with earache that has come on recently.
- Under 1 year old: please contact your GP.
- Adults with earache aren’t covered by this part of Pharmacy First. Speak to one of our pharmacists for advice, or contact your GP.
- Children who keep getting ear infections, and under-16s who are or may be pregnant, need to be seen by their GP. We’ll help you arrange this.
Common symptoms
- Pain inside the ear, often starting quickly
- A high temperature
- Difficulty hearing, or a feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear
- Discharge running out of the ear
- In younger children: rubbing, tugging or pulling at the ear, being irritable or restless, off their food, or not reacting to some sounds
What happens at your consultation
- Bring your child into the pharmacy. No appointment is needed. Our pharmacist looks inside the ear with an otoscope (a small light), which is available at all our opening hours, including Saturday. Because of this, the check can’t be done over the phone or online.
- We’ll ask about the symptoms, how long they have lasted, and any medical conditions, medicines or allergies.
- Most ear infections get better on their own within about 3 days, so the pharmacist may advise pain relief and self-care. Any treatment is decided by the pharmacist after the consultation, and only if it’s clinically appropriate.
- With your consent, we’ll let your GP practice know about the consultation. If your child isn’t better within 3 to 5 days, come back and see us.
When to get other help
See your GP if your child is under 12 months old, if the earache hasn’t improved after 3 days, or if ear infections keep coming back.
Get an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 if your child feels generally unwell, has a very high temperature or feels hot and shivery, has swelling around the ear, has a change in hearing, is being sick, feels dizzy or has a severe sore throat, is under 12 months with earache in both ears, or has a long-term heart, lung, kidney or neurological condition or a weakened immune system.
Call 999 or go to A&E if your child has a stiff neck, a dislike of bright lights or a rash that doesn’t fade under a glass, is confused, very drowsy or hard to wake, has a severe headache, or has painful swelling or redness behind the ear or a drooping face.
More information: Ear infections on the NHS website
Impetigo — free NHS treatment at Kiveton Pharmacy
Impetigo is a common skin infection. It’s very contagious but not usually serious, and it’s most common in young children. Under NHS Pharmacy First, our pharmacists can check the skin and advise on treatment, free and without a GP appointment.
Who can be seen
- Adults and children aged 1 year and over.
- Under 1 year old: please contact your GP.
- If impetigo has come back more than once in the same year, if the blisters are large and fluid-filled, or if an under-16 is or may be pregnant, the pharmacist will refer you to your GP.
Common symptoms
- Red sores or blisters (the redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin), often around the nose and mouth or on the hands
- Sores that burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches
- Patches that spread or get bigger, and may be itchy or sometimes sore
What happens at your consultation
- A face-to-face consultation is best, so the pharmacist can see the affected skin. Walk in, no appointment needed, and we can talk in our private consultation room. If you can’t come in, a video consultation is available. Call us on 01909 268 001.
- We’ll check it’s impetigo and not another skin infection, and ask about medical conditions, medicines, allergies and pregnancy.
- Treatment depends on how many patches there are and how widespread they are. The pharmacist decides on any treatment after the consultation, if it’s clinically appropriate.
- We’ll explain how to stop it spreading. Wash the skin with soap and water, don’t share towels or bedding, and stay off school, nursery or work until 48 hours after starting treatment, or until the patches have dried and crusted over.
- With your consent, we’ll let your GP practice know about the consultation.
When to get other help
See your GP if you are breastfeeding and the sores are on your breasts, have a weakened immune system, the impetigo has come back within the past year, or it has changed or got worse after treatment.
Call NHS 111 or get an urgent GP appointment if the skin around the sores becomes hot, swollen and painful, or you or your child feel unwell or have a high temperature.
Call 999 or go to A&E if redness is spreading quickly, the skin turns dark or blackened, or the person is very unwell, confused or struggling to breathe.
More information: Impetigo on the NHS website
Pharmacy First — your questions answered
What conditions can Pharmacy First treat?
Seven common conditions: sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women aged 16–64. Treatment, including antibiotics where appropriate, is free on the NHS.
Can a pharmacist really prescribe antibiotics?
Yes — under NHS Pharmacy First, trained pharmacists can supply specific antibiotics and other prescription treatments for the seven covered conditions when clinical criteria are met, without you seeing a GP.
Do I need an appointment for Pharmacy First?
No appointment is needed — walk into Kiveton Pharmacy at 7-8 The Square, Kiveton Park, Sheffield S26 5QN, or start with our online questionnaire and we will take care of the rest, usually the same day.
Can a pharmacist treat my child’s earache or ear infection?
Yes. If your child is aged 1 to 17, Kiveton Pharmacy can assess earache free under NHS Pharmacy First, with no GP appointment needed. Bring your child in, because the pharmacist needs to look in the ear with an otoscope, which is available at all our opening hours, including Saturday. Most ear infections get better on their own within about 3 days. Any treatment is decided by the pharmacist after the consultation, if it’s clinically appropriate. Children under 1 should see their GP.
Can I get impetigo treated at a pharmacy without seeing a GP?
Yes. Adults and children aged 1 and over can be seen free for impetigo under NHS Pharmacy First at Kiveton Pharmacy, 7-8 The Square, Kiveton Park, S26 5QN. A face-to-face consultation is best, so the pharmacist can see the affected skin, but a video consultation is available if you can’t come in. Any treatment is decided after the consultation, if it’s clinically appropriate. Babies under 1, and anyone whose impetigo keeps coming back, should see their GP.
Reviewed by Jawad Khan, Superintendent Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber (GPhC 2082861), October 2026.