All Posts

I had an interesting query from a local GP today: "What HRT options are available for a patient with a Nightshade allergy?" We chatted for a while and it turned out I had about a week to get to the bottom of this. We both knew this was not a normal query, so that was a relief. Ok, first things first, what is a nightshade? I had heard of nightshade- a plant used in fictional stories to make potions- but never imagined it was a real plant, or rather, family of plants. A second

We probably all have an idea where Vitamin D comes from. 'The Sun' you may say, or maybe you think of ads for various dairy products pointing out that these contain Vitamin D. While both of these are essentially true (your body actually just uses the Sun to turn 7-dehydrocholesterol, a type of cholesterol, into this useful vitamin!) they don't explain why you need vitamin D and they don't help us to know if we are getting enough. Vitamin D is very important in keeping our bo

The Common Conditions scheme is a new facility that community pharmacies will be able to offer, starting in January 2026. Quick Summary: Participating pharmacists can now write prescriptions for first line treatment for eight common conditions and provide the recommended treatment for a fee. Compared to a GP the scope of prescribing is limited but fees are typically lower and wait times are much shorter (you may not have to wait at all!) Full Explainer: Over the years, GP p

Here we will go through all the ways you can use your medical card to get the help you need if, and when, you need it. What it covers If you have a medical card you don't have to pay to see your GP (doctor) or for most medicines they prescribe. A medical card also covers: public out-patient and in-patient services eye and ear tests dental checks How it helps the price of prescriptions If you have a medical card, you can get prescription medicines for a nominal