Posts Tagged ‘pharmacist’

Doctors
in Scarborough and Ryedale will no longer usually prescribe medicines that
patients can buy over-the-counter for a range of minor health concerns,
including hay fever, coughs and colds, aches and pains and sunburn.

Patients
are instead encouraged to visit their local pharmacy for advice and treatments.

There’s
no need to make an appointment to see a pharmacist, making it quicker and
easier for patients. It also helps free up GP appointment slots for those who
need them most.

Some
of the products to treat minor, short-term illnesses can be purchased
over-the-counter at a lower cost than that which would be incurred by the NHS.

Some
medicines are also available from other retail outlets such as supermarkets,
convenience stores and health food stores. These are usually general sales list
items and can be purchased without advice from a pharmacist.

Clinical
Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Humber, Coast and Vale have adopted new guidance
issued by NHS England last year following the results of a public consultation
on the prescribing of over-the-counter medicines for minor, short-term health
concerns.

The
guidance does not affect the prescribing of over-the-counter treatments for
long-term conditions or more complex conditions, or where minor illnesses are a
symptom or side effect of a more serious condition.

The
NHS spends around £136 million a year on prescriptions for medicines which
could otherwise have been bought over-the-counter. By reducing the amount of
money the NHS spends on over-the-counter medicines, the NHS can give priority
to treatments for people with more serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes
and mental illness.

Dr
Phil Garnett, NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG Clinical Chair, said: “Our NHS
services are precious and by buying medicines over-the-counter for minor health
concerns from your local pharmacy or supermarket, rather than obtaining them on
prescription, we can make more efficient use of NHS resources and free up more
GP appointments for people who need them most.

“Having
home remedies to hand ensures people can self-manage minor illness or injury.
Medicines to keep in stock include pain relief tablets, antiseptic cream, cough
remedies and antihistamines.”

Alex
Seale, Senior Responsible Officer for Planned Care at the Humber, Coast and
Vale Health and Care Partnership, said: “CCGs in Humber, Coast and Vale are
working in partnership to ensure their populations are aware of the
prescription changes happening nationally within the NHS.

“Empowering
the public to self-manage minor conditions or injuries by buying products
over-the-counter is a positive behavioural change we need to embed into our
communities to ensure NHS resources are used effectively.” 

Visit www.prescriptionchanges.co.uk for
more information about the prescribing changes and for a full list of
conditions for which over-the-counter medicines will no longer be routinely
prescribed.