Sore throat treatment in Southport — free NHS service

What is sore throat?

A sore throat is pain, scratchiness, or irritation of the throat — usually worst when swallowing. Most sore throats are caused by a virus and clear up on their own. However, bacterial sore throats (caused by Streptococcus — ‘strep throat’) may benefit from antibiotics.

Under NHS Pharmacy First, our pharmacist uses a scoring system (FeverPAIN or Centor) to assess whether antibiotics are likely to help. If they are, we can prescribe them on the spot — without a GP visit.

Symptoms of sore throat

• Pain or soreness in the throat, especially when swallowing
• Red, swollen tonsils
• White patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils
• Swollen, tender glands in the neck
• Fever (temperature above 38°C)
• Hoarse or muffled voice

How we treat it

Our pharmacist will use the FeverPAIN score to assess your symptoms and decide whether antibiotics are appropriate. Treatment may include:

• Antibiotics (phenoxymethylpenicillin or amoxicillin) if a bacterial cause is likely
• Pain relief advice — paracetamol, ibuprofen, or an anaesthetic throat spray
• Self-care guidance — hydration, rest, honey and lemon, avoiding irritants
• Delayed prescription — a prescription to use only if symptoms don’t improve

What causes sore throat?

Sore throats are most commonly caused by:

• Viruses — including cold viruses, flu, and COVID-19. Antibiotics don’t help viral sore throats.
• Bacteria (strep throat) — Streptococcus pyogenes. More likely if you have white patches on your tonsils, a fever, and no cough.
• Tonsillitis — inflammation of the tonsils, which can be viral or bacterial.