Minor malady drugs get prescription ban
MEDICINES for minor ailments will no longer be prescribed by family doctors in Hinckley and Bosworth following a review by health chiefs.
People will be expected to buy their own treatments over the counter for such common maladies as headaches, indigestion, insect bites, hay fever and diarrhoea.
Vitamin D supplements and some specialised infant formulas are also being wiped from the allowed prescribing list.
The move comes after West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the organisation that buys health care services for the borough, scrutinised how people accessed over the counter medicines for the short term treatment of minor conditions.
Dr Chris Barlow, GP and CCG clinical lead for prescribing said: “The sorts of conditions we reviewed were headaches, indigestion, head lice, travel sickness, hay fever, diarrhoea and insect bites and stings. We also reviewed Vitamin D supplements and specialised infant formula which can be prescribed for babies with reflux or lactose intolerance.
“This review revealed that the majority of people do already buy their own medicines to treat minor conditions and most of the people we heard from are willing or very willing to buy medicines for minor ailments.
“There were some people who told us they were concerned particularly if they had a long term condition and they wanted to understand a little more about the effect of mixing medicines. Other people wanted to know more about the quality and strength of over the counter medicines. Some people were concerned about the affordability of some medicines. We also learnt that there are some myths and confusion out there.”
The survey showed many people were happy to talk to their pharmacist first about minor conditions and preferred to visit them rather than bother a GP.
With the need to spend resources wisely CCG bosses concluded affordable and readily available shop-bought medicines should no longer be offered on prescription.
Therefore GPs are being asked to stop prescribing medicines for the short term treatment of minor ailments, low dose vitamin D supplements for prevention of deficiency and some specialised infant formulas. Patients will be asked to purchase them over the counter instead.
Dr Barlow continued: “By asking people to self-care in this way, and we know that most people already do, it is a fairer way of utilising resources wisely as most of these items can be purchased in pharmacies and supermarkets at much lower prices than it costs the NHS to provide on a prescription.
“It will also free up valuable GP and nurse time, which can be used to deal with more complex or serious health needs.”
More information is available at www.westleicestershireccg. nhs.uk or www.nhs.uk and searching ‘medicines information’.