Boots is launching the chest infection service across 90 stores in the UK to help patients cope with the winter months when respiratory infections become increasingly common.
Chest infections are common, especially after a cold or flu, and the symptoms include a persistent cough, breathlessness, chest pain or tightness and coughing up thick mucus.
This is a private service and customers can book online at boots.com and pay in-store by paying £25. The service is meant for those aged 16 and over.
During the 20-minute appointment, an independent prescribing pharmacist will assess symptoms, provide advice and discuss available treatment options.
Any prescribed medication or over-the-counter treatments will be charged separately.
Claire Nevinson, Superintendent Pharmacist at Boots, said: "Chest infections are particularly common during the colder months and can leave people feeling unwell and unsure about the best course of action. Our new Chest Infection Service provides customers with convenient access to advice, support and treatment right on the high street."
She said that babies and young children, elderly people, pregnant women, people who smoke, people with long-term respiratory conditions like asthma, and those with a weakened immune system are more vulnerable to chest infections.
The common symptoms are a chesty cough with coloured mucus, wheezing and shortness of breath, chest discomfort, a high temperature, headaches, aching muscles and tiredness.
"Symptoms can be unpleasant, but they usually clear up on their own in seven to ten days, though coughing can last up to three weeks. Speak to a GP if the cough persists longer than 3 weeks or you a coughing up blood," she added.
