GPs dishing out Colgate at 7 times price in shops

SHAMPOO, pasta and suncream have been prescribed on the NHS amid a severe funding shortfall, an analysis has found.

GPs also handed out gluten-free digestive biscuits, Yakult yoghurt drinks, Colgate toothpaste and cod liver oil last year. Many of these products can be bought far more cheaply at supermarkets, health food shops and chemists.

The NHS is prescribing branded versions of medicines, creams or gluten-free foods which are far more expensive than generic items. And suppliers charge substantial delivery and administration costs to ship products to pharmacies.

The analysis by the TaxPayers’ Alliance also found that Rennie indigestion pills, gluten-free quinoa and Nicorette stop-smoking gum were all prescribed last year.

Only last week NHS England launched a consultation to cut more than 3,000 routine prescriptions including painkillers, indigestion remedies, anti-dandruff shampoo and cough mixtures, although gluten-free foods will remain.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance scrutinised the records of items prescribed by GP surgeries in 2016.

Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste was handed out at seven times its cost in chemists. Rennie indigestion pills were prescribed at three times the price while glutenfree pasta was costing the NHS twice its supermarket price.

A spokesman for NHS England said: ‘The NHS is one of the most efficient health services in the world and we have already announced plans to curb prescriptions for many of these products.’