Surgeries could stop prescribing paracetamol

PRESCRIPTIONS for common drugs like paracetemol could be scrapped by Birmingham GPs under new cost saving plans being considered.

The Sandwell and West Birmingham group of GPs want to stop prescribing drugs and treatments for minor illnesses where they are available over the counter in pharmacies for less than the £8.40 prescription charge.

They will also stop prescribing treatments where there is low clinical benefit or a better alternative is available.

On the list for consideration are cold remedies and common pain killers like paracetamol. Other treatments being considered by the NHS include sun cream as well as gluten-free foods, travel vaccines, omega 3 fish and fish oils and co-proxamol pain killers and muscle pain rubs.

The NHS Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group will suggest GPs no longer prescribe these tretments and patients attend a pharmacy instead.

This will in turn give GPs more time to see other patients.

Dr Gwyn Harris, clinical lead for medicines quality said: “All NHS organisations face the challenge of how they can spend their budget most effectively for the greatest benefit to their patients. We know that we spend money on treating some conditions where there is no proven medical benefit and there is no clinical need to treat.

“We could use this money more effectively for the benefit of our patients.

“If we make these changes, then we will be able to invest in new, effective and high cost treatments for serious conditions such as heart failure, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease.”

At a national level the NHS hopes to save about £128 million by cutting prescriptions for low value and low priority treatments.

The consultation runs until July 13, 2017.

Details and a survey are available at sandwellandwestbhamccg.nhs.uk/equality-awards/ equality-awards-2017.