Pharmacies
Garswood Pharmacy
GARSWOOD SURGERY, BILLINGE ROAD, ASHTON-IN-MAKERFIELD, Wigan WN4 0XD
Overview
Garswood Pharmacy is a community pharmacy located at Garswood Surgery on Billinge Road in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan. As part of an integrated healthcare facility, the pharmacy serves the local population of this residential area in Greater Manchester.
The pharmacy provides a range of essential services typical of community pharmacies across the UK. These include dispensing prescriptions, offering medicines advice, and providing over-the-counter medications for common ailments. Many community pharmacies in this area also offer services such as prescription management, smoking cessation support, and health checks.
Being situated within a surgery setting, Garswood Pharmacy works closely with local healthcare professionals and general practitioners. This arrangement benefits patients by providing convenient access to both pharmacy and medical services in one location. The pharmacy is an important resource for the local community, helping to manage healthcare needs and improve medication compliance among patients in Ashton-in-Makerfield and surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Opening hours at Garswood Pharmacy in Wigan vary — most pharmacies are open Monday to Saturday, with some offering Sunday and bank holiday hours. Contact 01942 719879 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 Garswood 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, Garswood 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 Garswood 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 Garswood Pharmacy about setting up a nominated representative.
Yes, you can return unwanted, expired, or unused medicines to Garswood Pharmacy for safe disposal. Do not flush medicines down the toilet or throw them in household waste as they can harm the environment. Simply bring them to the pharmacy and hand them to a member of staff. This includes tablets, liquids, creams, inhalers, and needles/sharps (in a sharps bin).
Garswood Pharmacy may offer a free prescription delivery service for patients who are housebound, elderly, or have difficulty visiting the pharmacy. Contact 01942 719879 to check availability and arrange delivery to your home in the Wigan area. Some pharmacies use delivery apps or partner with delivery services for same-day delivery.
Yes, Garswood Pharmacy offers Medicine Use Reviews (MURs) and the New Medicine Service (NMS) to help you get the most from your medicines. These free NHS consultations help you understand what your medicines are for, how to take them correctly, identify side effects, and resolve any problems. Ask the pharmacist if you take multiple medications or have recently started a new medicine.
Yes, Garswood 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.
If Garswood 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.
Pharmacy First is an NHS service that allows pharmacists at Garswood 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.
Garswood Pharmacy aims to be accessible to all customers. Contact 01942 719879 to confirm step-free access, accessible counter heights, and any other adjustments you may need. Under the Equality Act, pharmacies must make reasonable adjustments for disabled customers. A private consultation room is available for confidential discussions.
Garswood 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 01942 719879. Some travel vaccines carry a charge as they are not available on the NHS.
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.
Yes, Garswood 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 01942 719879 to arrange. If your blood pressure is raised, the pharmacist will advise on next steps and may refer you to your GP.