Pharmacies
Bridgewater Pharmacy
5 PRINTERS AVENUE, Watford WD18 7QR
Overview
Bridgewater Pharmacy is a community pharmacy located in Watford, Hertfordshire, serving the local population with comprehensive pharmaceutical services. Like other community pharmacies across the UK, it provides a range of essential healthcare services to residents in the area.
The pharmacy dispenses prescription medications on behalf of the NHS and private patients, ensuring safe and accurate provision of prescribed drugs. Staff members, including qualified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, are available to offer professional advice on medications, potential side effects, and drug interactions. The pharmacy also typically stocks over-the-counter medicines and health products for common ailments.
Beyond dispensing prescriptions, Bridgewater Pharmacy likely provides additional services such as health consultations, smoking cessation support, and advice on minor illnesses. The pharmacy acts as an accessible healthcare resource within the community, helping patients manage their health and wellbeing. Located on Printers Avenue in Watford town, it serves as a convenient local healthcare provider for the surrounding residential areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Opening hours at Bridgewater Pharmacy in Watford vary — most pharmacies are open Monday to Saturday, with some offering Sunday and bank holiday hours. Contact 01923 227741 for current opening times. Many pharmacies open early (8am) and close late (6:30pm or later). Check the NHS website for verified opening hours.
Some medicines require a prescription from your GP or hospital doctor, while many others are available over the counter without a prescription. The pharmacist at Bridgewater Pharmacy can advise you on which medicines are available without a prescription and can recommend suitable treatments for common conditions such as coughs, colds, headaches, hay fever, and minor infections.
Yes, Bridgewater Pharmacy offers free NHS flu vaccinations each autumn for eligible patients including those aged 65 and over, pregnant women, people with long-term conditions (asthma, diabetes, heart disease), carers, and frontline health and social care workers. No appointment is needed at many pharmacies — walk in and ask. The pharmacist can check your eligibility on the spot.
Yes, you can collect a prescription on behalf of someone else from Bridgewater Pharmacy. You will need to know the patient's name and date of birth, and you may be asked to sign for the collection. For controlled drugs, additional identification requirements may apply. If you regularly collect for someone, ask Bridgewater Pharmacy about setting up a nominated representative.
You may be entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you are aged 60 or over, under 16 (or under 19 in full-time education), pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, have certain medical conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, etc.), receiving certain benefits (Universal Credit with no earnings, Income Support, etc.), a war pensioner, or hold an HC2 certificate. If you pay for prescriptions, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) can save money — currently about £30 for 3 months or £108 for 12 months, covering unlimited prescriptions.
Pharmacy First is an NHS service that allows pharmacists at Bridgewater Pharmacy to assess and treat seven common conditions without a GP appointment: sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated UTIs in women. The pharmacist can supply NHS medicines for these conditions free of charge if you are exempt from prescription charges. This saves you waiting for a GP appointment.
Yes, Bridgewater Pharmacy can manage your repeat prescriptions for you. The pharmacy contacts your GP surgery on your behalf to order your regular medicines, so they are ready for you to collect without having to request them yourself each time. Ask about the Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) service, which allows your GP to authorise repeats for up to 12 months.
Yes, emergency contraception (the morning-after pill) is available from Bridgewater Pharmacy without a prescription. It is most effective the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex. Levonorgestrel (effective up to 72 hours) is available over the counter. Ulipristal acetate (effective up to 120 hours) may also be available. The pharmacist will have a brief confidential consultation. Emergency contraception is free on the NHS for women of all ages from most pharmacies.
Bridgewater Pharmacy may offer COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses as part of the NHS vaccination programme. Eligibility depends on current NHS guidance. Check the NHS website or call 01923 227741 to find out if COVID-19 vaccinations are currently available at this pharmacy and whether you are eligible.
Yes, Bridgewater Pharmacy has a private consultation room where you can speak to the pharmacist confidentially about your health, medicines, or any sensitive issues. All NHS pharmacy services including Pharmacy First consultations, medicine reviews, and vaccination appointments take place in the private room. Ask at the counter if you would like a private consultation.
Yes, Bridgewater Pharmacy offers free NHS blood pressure checks for adults aged 40 and over. High blood pressure often has no symptoms but increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. The check takes about 5 minutes — walk in or call 01923 227741 to arrange. If your blood pressure is raised, the pharmacist will advise on next steps and may refer you to your GP.
Yes, Bridgewater Pharmacy can help you quit smoking with free NHS support including advice from the pharmacist, nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers), a structured stop smoking programme with regular check-ins, and access to prescription-only stop smoking medications via your GP. Evidence shows you are up to 3 times more likely to quit with professional support compared to going it alone.
If Bridgewater Pharmacy is closed, check the rota for the nearest late-night or duty pharmacy — pharmacies take turns providing out-of-hours cover on evenings, Sundays, and bank holidays. You can find the nearest open pharmacy on the NHS website or by calling NHS 111. In a medical emergency, call 999.
Bridgewater Pharmacy can provide travel health advice and some travel vaccinations. Common travel vaccines available at pharmacies include hepatitis A, typhoid, and cholera. Other vaccinations such as yellow fever require a specialist travel clinic. Book a travel health consultation at least 6-8 weeks before your trip by calling 01923 227741. Some travel vaccines carry a charge as they are not available on the NHS.