Six ways that a pharmacist can help with allergies, and out of GP hours
Words: Alexa Baracaia
From replacing medication in an emergency to treating troublesome insect bites, the role of a pharmacy goes far beyond just doling out prescriptions.
Through the NHS, pharmacists can suggest treatments for a range of common ailments without the need to see a GP, give advice on newly-prescribed medicines (and offer ongoing support) or answer your worries about side effects and more.
They also have the know-how and resources to help with specific allergic conditions such as hay fever and asthma.
With more than 350 in-store pharmacies across England, Wales and Scotland, Tesco is one of the top large operators in the UK. Their pharmacy outlets serve upwards of half a million people each week and are open from Monday to Sunday, including evenings and weekends.
So if you’re battling allergy-related issues what can your local Tesco pharmacy do? Here are six key areas where they can help:
1. In an emergency
Whether you’ve lost your adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) or realised your asthma meds are out of date, you’re just one call away from being able to collect a new one – even when GP surgeries are closed.
Through the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, if you dial 111 out of hours and explain the medication you urgently need, they will refer you to your local pharmacy of choice.
According to Tesco Pharmacy services manager Jonathan Bridgett, most branches will have standard AAIs in stock – but if they don’t, they will help you to find somewhere within easy reach that does.
Meanwhile, although no-one wants to be caught out in an allergic reaction or asthma attack without medication, if you happen to be close to a Tesco pharmacy you can be reassured they will help even if you haven’t contacted 111.
“We would always try to help the customer and can access – with customers’ permission – their care records to provide the correct medication,” adds Bridgett.
So if you’re battling allergy-related issues what can your local Tesco pharmacy do? Here are six key areas where they can help:
2. Over-the-counter medication
Tesco pharmacies stock all of the major hay fever and environmental allergy medication – from antihistamines to nasal sprays and eye drops. These can be purchased both in-store and online with your usual Tesco grocery shop. Head to tesco.com/pharmacy to see the range of products available.
3. Insect bites
In a bid to relieve the pressure on stretched GP services, pharmacists are trained in clinical pathways to help diagnose and treat some common issues, such as urinary tract infections, shingles and impetigo. Among these are infected insect bites, so if you or your child (over the age of one) have been bitten and fear it is not responding to normal at-home treatment, a Tesco pharmacist can help.
They will be able to assess whether the symptoms suggest infection, and can recommend at-home self-care, with oral antihistamines or topical steroids; provide antibiotics if needed; request a follow-up appointment to check progress; or refer you to a GP or other provider if they suspect complications such as Lyme disease (an illness sometimes caused by tick bites).
Through the NHS, pharmacists can suggest treatments for a range of common ailments without the need to see a GP, give advice on newly-prescribed medicines (and offer ongoing support) or answer your worries about side effects and more.
4. Advice on using your medication
As well as recommending suitable treatments for common complaints such as allergic rhinitis, a pharmacist will be able to advise on the correct way to administer the likes of nasal sprays and eye drops.
It’s particularly important to use a nasal spray properly – these medicines deliver antihistamines and/or steroids directly to the nasal passages, helping symptoms such as itching, sneezing and inflammation. But the spray needs to land on the inflamed area to work, so do ask for a demonstration.
5. Sinusitis
Pharmacists can also diagnose and treat acute sinusitis. This is a common complication of hay fever or viral illness, and symptoms include a chronically blocked nose, pain and tenderness around the cheeks, eyes or forehead and nasal discharge. In most cases it may take two to three weeks to resolve without medication but a Tesco pharmacist can offer advice on symptoms and may, if necessary, prescribe a nasal corticosteroid or antibiotic.
[Tesco] pharmacy outlets serve upwards of half a million people each week and are open from Monday to Sunday, including evenings and weekends.
6. Asthma
Between now and March 31 2026, pharmacists (under the NHS Pharmacy Quality Scheme) are required to review their patients with asthma. This means that they will be checking the following:
All children aged 5 to 15 prescribed a ‘press and breathe’ device for asthma should also have a spacer. Where this is not the case, they will refer the child to an appropriate healthcare professional for review
Patients with asthma who have been dispensed three or more reliever inhalers over a six month period, but received no preventer, will be referred on for a follow-up asthma review
Your pharmacist will also be able to demonstrate how to correctly administer your asthma medication so if in doubt do always ask for advice.
P.S. Free-from recipes
Finding safe food options is always a challenge when managing complex dietary needs. Tesco partners with a number of charities, including Diabetes UK, and offers recipes online that are suitable for diabetic diets. Those with food allergies can also find specific milk-free, egg-free and gluten-free options, including dishes created by a host of well-known chefs. Head to tesco.com/recipes to browse the collection.
Where can I find a Tesco pharmacy?
Tesco pharmacies can be found in large Tesco Extra and Superstore branches – with more than 330 across England, 15 in Wales and seven in Scotland.
When are they open?
Standard opening hours – with just a few exceptions – are:
Monday to Saturday – 8am to 8pm or 9am to 9pm
Sunday – 10am to 4pm or 11am to 5pm
Many Tesco pharmacies are open on Bank Holidays, generally with slightly reduced opening hours in line with the store.
To find your nearest Tesco Pharmacy and check opening hours for individual branches head to tesco.com/store-locator and filter by ‘pharmacy.’
For more visit: www.tesco.com
Alexa Baracaia
Alexa is a journalist, author and parent to a fully paid-up EpiPen-toting teen.
A former full-time newspaper arts correspondent and section editor, she now freelances for a number of online and print publications.
Following her son’s diagnosis as a baby she took to Twitter in search of other families in the same boat. There, she founded the popular forum #allergyhour, which ran for ten years. A vocal allergy advocate, she has helped lead campaigns to counter blanket ‘may contain’ labelling, advised chains including Leon and co-ordinated a 150-strong group response to the government’s allergen labelling consultation. She believes clear communication from all sides is key when it comes to living with allergies.
A long-standing judge for the Free From Food Awards, Alexa was named their Free From Hero for 2022.
Her debut book, ‘My Family and Food Allergies: The All You Need to Know Guide’, was published by Sheldon Press in 2021.
She lives in Hackney, London, with her husband, two children and a lot of Lego.
My Family and Food Allergies: The All You Need to Know Guide by Alexa Baracaia is out now, published by Sheldon Press and available in both Kindle and print formats.
