Who is eligible for Pharmacy First Infected Insect Bite treatment?

You may be eligible if you are adults & children 1 and over. Treatment is free on the NHS — no GP appointment or referral needed.

What are the symptoms of Infected Insect Bite?

Increasing redness spreading around the bite; Warmth or swelling at the site; Pus or discharge; Pain that's getting worse rather than better.

Do I need a GP referral to be treated for Infected Insect Bite at a pharmacy?

No — under NHS Pharmacy First you can walk into any Bounce Pharmacy branch without a GP appointment or referral. The service is completely free to eligible patients.

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NHSInfected Insect Bite

Adults & children 1 and over

A bite from an insect that's become red, swollen and showing signs of infection.

Signs of infection

Increasing redness spreading around the bite
Warmth or swelling at the site
Pus or discharge
Pain that's getting worse rather than better

What we do

Our pharmacist can assess whether the bite is infected and prescribe antibiotics if needed. We'll also advise on when to seek urgent care — for example if you develop a fever or the redness spreads rapidly.

When to seek other help

This service may not be suitable in the following situations — please seek the appropriate care instead:

Under 1 year old
Signs of anaphylaxis — swelling of lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing (call 999)
Bite on or near the eye
Rapidly spreading redness with fever (possible cellulitis — go to A&E)
Suspected tick bite with bulls-eye rash (possible Lyme disease — see your GP)