Pharmacy2U is offering “same-day appointments” to patients for six of the seven Pharmacy First conditions.

The online pharmacy said it was one of the 10,000 pharmacies in England that have signed up to provide the service. It is offering consultations for sinusitis, sore throat, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women but not acute otitis media as online pharmacies are excluded from the service specification.

Pharmacy2U said patients can book an appointment to speak to one of its pharmacists online after filling in a questionnaire about their condition and offered to deliver prescription medicines if required to patients’ homes using Royal Mail’s 24-hour service.

Pharmacy2U chief executive Kevin Heath said: "We are delighted to be joining our fellow pharmacists in launching the NHS common condition service as part of the Pharmacy First programme. This initiative, which we support fully, will play a major role in providing patients easy and direct access to pharmacists, to discuss and treat a number of common conditions.

“We know our patients will value the convenience and privacy of this new service. As the UK’s leading digital pharmacy, currently helping over 800,000 patients with their NHS repeat prescriptions, we continue our proud relationship with the NHS and providing digital access to much needed health services to patients across England.”