Community pharmacies are often the first source for information and advice when health problems arise. Increasingly patients are being referred to pharmacists by other health care professionals through Pharmacy First and similar schemes.

This book presents a decision-making framework along with ‘red flags’, ‘when to refer’ and evidence-based treatment recommendations. A unique feature is that case studies appear throughout, in which pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and patients describe assessment and treatment of a wide range of common problems.

Highlights of this substantially updated tenth edition are:

• The addition of seven major sections covering the initial Pharmacy First scheme in England: acute otitis media (AOM); impetigo; infected insect bites; shingles; acute sinusitis; sore throat; and uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women.
• A changed book title to reflect the increasing remit of community pharmacy in disease prevention, with extended content on topics such as blood pressure measurement and shingles vaccination.
• ‘The consultation’ expanded in a new chapter, including decisions about supplying antibiotics with a suggested framework to reflect antimicrobial stewardship.
• Pharmacy continuation of contraceptive pills and the Pharmacy Contraception service.
• Revisited and updated information on COVID-19 and long COVID in the light of the transition of COVID-19 to an endemic state.

Practicing and Foundation trainee pharmacists, as well as undergraduate pharmacy students and many other healthcare professionals, will find Symptoms in the Pharmacy: A Guide to the Management of Common Illnesses and Disease Prevention invaluable.

Alison Blenkinsopp, OBE, BPharm, FFRPS, PhD, Educational Consultant and Professor of the Practice of Pharmacy, UK.

Martin Duerden, BMedSci, MB BS, DRCOG, DipTher, DPH, FRCGP, is a recently Retired General Practitioner and NHS Medical Director.

John Blenkinsopp, MB ChB, BPharm, MRPharmS, trained both as a Pharmacist and a Doctor and is Chief Medical Officer for Avipero Ltd., UK.