Advice and treatment service for Shingles in South Ealing

South Ealing Pharmacy offers advice and NHS-funded treatment for shingles through the Pharmacy First Service in South Ealing to eligible patients. You can book your appointment online.

If you have symptoms suggestive of a shingles infection, it is important to get an antiviral treatment, if it is clinically appropriate, at the initial stages to reduce the duration and severity of the infection.

What is Shingles?

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. When an individual is infected with chickenpox, the virus stays in their body in an inactive form. The inactive virus can become activated due several reasons, causing shingles.

The virus that causes chickenpox and later becomes reactivated to cause shingles is called the varicella-zoster virus.

What are the available treatments for shingles through the Pharmacy First Service?

Your symptoms will be assessed by one of the pharmacists during a consultation. You may be offered treatment through the Pharmacy First Service if it is clinically appropriate and you are eligible under this service.

Antiviral tablets (for the treatment of shingles (herpes zoster) infection)

*If you are issued a prescription medicine, you will pay the standard NHS prescription charge unless you’re eligible for free prescriptions.

If the pharmacist is unable to offer treatment through this service, they will recommend an alternative or sign-post you to another service.

Want to learn more about shingles? Check out the NHS webpage for up-to-date advice and information on shingles.