Sore Throat Service

A sore throat is a common condition characterised by pain, scratchiness, or irritation of the throat. It often makes swallowing painful and can be accompanied by other symptoms such as a dry cough, hoarseness, or swollen glands.

Details can be found on https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sore-throat/

This is an NHS-funded service available for patients aged 5 years and over.

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Symptoms of a sore throat may vary depending on the underlying cause but commonly include:

Pain or discomfort in the throat, especially when swallowing
Dryness or scratchiness in the throat
Swollen or tender glands in the neck
Hoarseness or changes in voice
Redness or inflammation in the throat
Coughing or sneezing
Mild fever or chills

How you can help yourself when you have a sore throat

You can ask a pharmacist about ways of relieving the pain and discomfort of a sore throat, such as:
paracetamol or ibuprofen
medicated lozenges containing a local anaesthetic, antiseptic, or anti-inflammatory medicine
anaesthetic spray (although there's little proof they help when used on their own)
You can buy these treatments from a supermarket or pharmacy without a prescription.
A pharmacist can also provide other treatments if you need them, without you seeing a GP.
Some medicines are not safe for everyone (for example, if you're pregnant). Always check the leaflet or speak to a pharmacist before taking them.

Causes of sore throat

Sore throats are usually caused by viruses (like cold or flu) or from smoking. Very occasionally they can be caused by bacteria.

A sore throat can also be caused by:

laryngitis
tonsillitis
strep throat (a bacterial throat infection)
glandular fever

Cost

The pharmacist consultation is provided by NHS England and is free of charge. If you require antibiotics you will have to pay the standard NHS prescription charge or get them for free if you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions.