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Walk in or call
Come in as soon as you suspect shingles — ideally within 72 hours of the rash appearing. Tell our team it's for a Pharmacy First shingles consultation.
NHS Pharmacy First · Shingles
Free same-day antivirals for shingles.
Painful blistering rash on one side of your body? Our pharmacists can assess shingles and supply antiviral treatment under NHS Pharmacy First — for adults aged 18+. Most effective when started within 72 hours of the rash appearing.
- Free consultationCost
- 72 hours of rashBest within
- Adults 18+Eligibility
What is shingles?
Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster), which stays dormant in nerve cells after a childhood infection. When it reactivates — often years or decades later — it travels along a nerve to the skin, causing a painful, blistering rash typically on one side of the body, in the area supplied by that nerve (a dermatome).
Under the NHS Pharmacy First service, our registered pharmacists at Qrystal Pharmacy in London can assess shingles and supply antiviral medication (usually aciclovir or valaciclovir) — same day, without a GP appointment. The service is open to adults aged 18 and over.
Antivirals work best when started within 72 hours of the rash appearing. They shorten the illness, reduce pain, and lower the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) — long-lasting nerve pain that can persist for months or years after the rash heals. If you suspect shingles, please come in as soon as possible.
Symptoms of shingles
Shingles typically begins with tingling, itching, or pain in one area — followed a few days later by a rash. Key features include:
- Burning, tingling, or stabbing pain in one area (often a few days before the rash)
- Itchiness or skin sensitivity in the same area
- A red rash that develops fluid-filled blisters
- Rash confined to one side of the body in a band or stripe
- Blisters that scab over within 7-10 days
- Headache and feeling generally unwell
- Mild fever in some cases
- Pain that may persist after the rash clears (post-herpetic neuralgia)
- Most commonly on the chest, abdomen, or face
- Pain that can range from mild to severe
When to see us — and when to seek urgent help
Walk in to Pharmacy First if you have:
- A painful, blistering rash on one side of the body — see us as soon as possible
- Rash that's been present for less than 7 days (antivirals work best in first 72 hours)
- Pain or tingling without a rash yet, but with a history of chickenpox
- Mild facial shingles without eye involvement
Get urgent help (NHS 111 or A&E) if you have:
- Shingles affecting the eye, eyelid, or forehead (ophthalmic shingles — risk to sight)
- Shingles affecting the ear (risk of facial paralysis — Ramsay Hunt syndrome)
- Widespread rash covering multiple areas (disseminated shingles)
- Severe pain not controlled by simple pain relief
- Symptoms in a weakened immune system (chemotherapy, transplant, HIV)
Who is eligible for shingles treatment under Pharmacy First?
- Adults aged 18 and over
- Registered with an NHS GP in England
- Rash present for fewer than 7 days (ideally within 72 hours)
You're not eligible if:
- Children and adolescents under 18
- Patients with ophthalmic shingles (involving the eye) — will be urgently referred
- Patients with immunosuppression (chemotherapy, transplant, biologics) — usually need specialist input
- Pregnant or breastfeeding patients — please ask; we will discuss
- Disseminated shingles or shingles with neurological complications
How the consultation works
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Private examination
Our pharmacist examines the rash in our private consultation room and confirms the diagnosis (the dermatomal pattern is usually distinctive).
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Treatment plan
Antiviral medication (usually aciclovir 800mg five times daily for 7 days, or valaciclovir), plus pain-relief and skin-care advice. Same-day dispensing.
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Records to your GP
With your consent we share a consultation summary electronically with your GP for joined-up records.
What's included
- Clinical assessment by a registered pharmacist
- Private consultation room — fully confidential
- Antiviral prescription (aciclovir or valaciclovir) where clinically appropriate
- Pain-relief advice including options for severe pain
- Skin-care and dressing guidance
- Onward referral if shingles affects the eye, ear, or in immunocompromised patients
- Electronic record sent securely to your GP
Other Pharmacy First conditions we can treat
Impetigo
Adults & children 1+
Topical or oral antibiotic treatment for the contagious impetigo rash, from age 1.
Read moreInfected Insect Bites
Adults & children 1+
Same-day antibiotic treatment for bites or stings that have developed signs of bacterial infection.
Read moreUTI (Women 16-64)
Women 16-64
Same-day NHS antibiotic treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women aged 16 to 64.
Read moreShingles — frequently asked questions
Why do antivirals need to be started within 72 hours?
Antivirals work by stopping the virus from replicating. They have the biggest impact when started early — within 72 hours of the rash appearing — when virus levels are rising. Starting later still has some benefit (especially if new blisters are still forming or you're at risk of post-herpetic neuralgia), but the gains are smaller. Don't delay if you think you have shingles.
Will antivirals make my shingles go away faster?
Yes — they typically shorten the rash by a few days, reduce pain, and most importantly reduce the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia (lasting nerve pain). They don't cure shingles, but they make it less severe and shorter.
What is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN)?
PHN is nerve pain that persists after the shingles rash has healed — sometimes for months or years. It's the most common complication, especially in people over 50. Antiviral treatment reduces but doesn't eliminate the risk. If you develop ongoing pain after the rash settles, see your GP — there are specific treatments.
Can I catch shingles from someone, or give it to someone?
You can't catch shingles from someone — shingles is a reactivation of your own latent virus. But the fluid in shingles blisters contains live virus and can give chickenpox to people who haven't had chickenpox or the vaccine — particularly newborns, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems. Keep the rash covered until blisters crust over (7-10 days).
When is shingles an emergency?
Seek urgent help if you have rash on the forehead, eye, or eyelid (risk to sight), inside the ear (risk of facial paralysis), if you have signs of widespread infection, severe pain, or if you have a weakened immune system. We'll refer you urgently if any of these features are present.
Should I have the shingles vaccine?
Yes if you're eligible. The NHS offers the shingles vaccine (Shingrix) for adults aged 65-79, and for those aged 50+ with a severely weakened immune system. It dramatically reduces the chance of shingles and PHN. Speak to your GP if you're not sure whether you're eligible — having a recent episode doesn't disqualify you.
Can I go to work?
If you feel well enough and your rash can be covered, you can usually continue working. Avoid contact with pregnant women, newborns, and immunocompromised people until your blisters have crusted over. If you work with vulnerable groups (e.g. childcare, healthcare), discuss with your employer.
What can I do for the pain?
Paracetamol or ibuprofen for mild pain; cool compresses on the rash; loose-fitting clothing; calamine lotion to ease itching. For severe pain, your GP can prescribe stronger options. Don't pop the blisters or apply antibiotic creams unless infection sets in.
Painful one-sided rash?
Walk into Qrystal Pharmacy as soon as possible — antivirals work best within 72 hours of the rash appearing.