Your GP, or other healthcare professional, will generally no longer give you a prescription for over the counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns.
This is in response to national guidance introduced in 2018 to reduce the amount of money the NHS spends on prescriptions for treating minor conditions that usually get better on their own or can be treated with a medicine that can be bought over the counter. Reducing prescribing for over the counter medicines in Birmingham and Solihull would also significantly free up GP appointment times.
Over the counter medicines are those that are available to buy from your local pharmacy or supermarket. In the year prior to June 2017, the NHS spent around £569 million a year on prescriptions for over the counter medicines. This includes prescriptions for a range of minor health concerns, including:
- Self-limiting conditions (will heal or be cured without treatment)
- Conditions which lend themselves to self-care (don’t usually require medical advice)
- Some vitamins, minerals or probiotics
The cost to the NHS for many of the medicines used to treat minor conditions are often higher when prescribed than the cost to the public when purchased over the counter. This is because there are hidden costs when a medicine is prescribed. For example, a pack of 16 paracetamol 500mg tablets can be purchased for less than 50p from a pharmacy or supermarket, but the cost to the NHS is around three times as much.
A policy outlines the reasons for this change, which include:
- Reducing the amount the NHS spends on over the counter medicines allows funding of treatments for more serious conditions, such as cancer, diabetes and mental health problems to be prioritised.
- Reducing the number of general practice appointments for conditions which are suitable for self-care releases more appointments for people with long term and serious health conditions.
- Patients can take more control over their own health, using the skills of highly trained community pharmacists if they wish to do so.
The team of health professionals at your local pharmacy can offer help and clinical advice to manage minor health concerns and if your symptoms suggest it’s more serious, they’ll ensure you get the care you need. Find more information on the advice and services available from community pharmacy across Birmingham and Solihull.
Similar policies are being implemented across England. For further information, the NHS has produced a leaflet explaining the changes to prescribing of Over the Counter medicines.