Pharmacists have been told to expect enquiries about seasonal ailments like hay fever and infected insect bites over the bank holiday weekend.

It comes as NHS England reported 19,562 visits to the hay fever page on nhs.uk between Monday 28 and Wednesday 30 April, compared to 8,390 for the same period the previous week.

Following a Met Office forecast of very high pollen levels across the Midlands and South of England, the page received an average of one visit every 12 seconds on Wednesday.

Patients directed to pharmacies for hay fever treatment

Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, told patients that for many people, hay fever symptoms could be managed 'with medication that is available off the shelf from community pharmacies and supermarkets'.

And the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) shared answers to common questions about hay fever that pharmacy teams could discuss with their patients.

Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), also said community pharmacies were 'quick and accessible' places for patients to 'get trusted support'.

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'Community pharmacists are well placed to help people manage hay fever symptoms with tailored advice and over-the-counter treatments like antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops,' she said.

'Pharmacists can also offer tips to reduce pollen exposure, like keeping windows closed, wearing wraparound sunglasses, applying petroleum jelly-based products around the nostrils, and if symptoms persist, referring patients to their GP.'

PAGB, the consumer healthcare association, said that spring and summer 'can be a busy time for healthcare professionals as they help patients navigate their symptoms'.

Deborah Evans, community pharmacist and advisor to PAGB, noted that in general hay fever can be treated with antihistamines, decongestants, eyedrops and nasal corticosteroids.

But in severe cases, 'immunotherapy may be recommended to reduce sensitivity to the allergens', she said.

She reiterated that patients suffering from hay fever should be advised to 'have regular antihistamine treatment, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, and you can also use Vaseline around your nostrils or other products designed to help catch any pollen. Once you are inside, you should wash your face and hands to help remove the pollen.'

And to treat a blocked nose caused by hay fever, decongestants and nasal sprays could be used, she said.

But she cautioned: 'Many decongestants should only be used for a few days to avoid a rebound reaction which can make the congestion worse.'

Raise awareness about infected insect bite treatment, pharmacies told

Pharmacists have also been told to expect an increase in concerns about insect bites over the bank holiday season.

Related Article: Pharmacy First: Tips for diagnosing and treating infected insect bites

In a social media post, Community Pharmacy Norfolk and Suffolk reminded pharmacies, particularly those based near the coast or waterways, that they 'may see an increase in infected insect bites as more locals and tourists take to the region'.

'Under the Pharmacy First service, infected insect bites are one of the seven common conditions that pharmacists can treat for those one year and over.

'This is a timely opportunity to raise awareness with patients and local GP practices, along with helping meet service thresholds,' the local pharmaceutical committee said.

Lauren Seamons, joint chief officer at Community Pharmacy Norfolk and Suffolk said pharmacies in the area had seen a definite increase in demand for infected insect bite treatment last year.

She said pharmacies in the area had supported over 6,000 people with infected insect bites as part of the Pharmacy First service, with a peak in demand during August.

'This is key area that pharmacists can help with, particularly as we see a lot of seasonal demand due to the forests, rivers and seaside destinations many of our residents and visitors enjoy,' she told The Pharmacist.

Last year, community pharmacies in England recorded an increased number of infected insect bite pharmacy first consultations in May, continuing through the summer.

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Referrals for urgent medicine supplies also saw an increase in May 2024, which was repeated during school summer holidays and around Christmas.

Read our tips for diagnosing and treating infected insect bites under the Pharmacy First clinical pathway.