Boots launches private chest infection service in UK stores

Health retailer Boots has introduced a private chest infection service across more than 90 stores in the United Kingdom. The service is designed to provide healthcare support on the high street as the cold and flu season begins.

Available to individuals aged 16 and over, the service includes a 20-minute consultation with an independent prescribing pharmacist. During the appointment, the pharmacist will assess symptoms, provide medical advice, and discuss treatment options, which may include over-the-counter medications or a course of antibiotics where appropriate. Consultations are held in private rooms and cost £25, with the cost of any prescribed or over-the-counter medications charged separately.

Superintendent pharmacist Claire Nevinson noted that chest infections are common during colder months and can leave patients unsure of the best course of action. The launch follows surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency suggesting a potentially early flu season.