Lockdown stampede to GPs to get painkillers on prescription

DOCTORS handed out four million more painkillers on prescription during lockdown as panic buying emptied supermarket shelves.

Shortages of paracetamol, ibuprofen and Nurofen prompted a rush to GP surgeries in the first three months of the coronavirus pandemic – and there was also a run on prescriptions for plasters, sleeping pills and even gluten-free bread.

The latest NHS figures show the cost of individual packets increased by an average of £1 each throughout the lockdown period.

Prescription costs overall rocketed by £15million to £275million between March and May, with an extra £700,00 spent handing out painkillers alone.

A massive 107million paracetamol, ibuprofen and Nurofen pills were prescribed during this period, four million more than at the same time last year.

Doctors have now warned against stockpiling amid fears of another wave of Covid19 alongside seasonal flu and common colds during the winter months.

Dr Carey Lunan, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland, said: ‘While these painkillers are very cheap to buy over the counter, they cost the NHS significantly more if they have to be dispensed on a prescription, and this generates additional work for GP practices. Although prescriptions are free for patients in Scotland, there is still a significant cost to the NHS in requesting paracetamol in this way.’

She urged patients who use paracetamol ‘on an ad hoc basis for pain or fever’ to buy it over the counter, if affordable.

NHS ‘prescriptions in the community’ figures reveal more than 23million were issued during the first three months of lockdown. Overall, GPs handed out £260million in prescriptions between March and May last year compared with £275million over the same period this year. The cost of providing painkillers also soared. The average price of ibuprofen rose from £2.90 in February this year – the same price as 2019 – to £5.19 by May.

Packets of branded painkiller Nurofen started at £10.50 on average in February but peaked at £14 in May. Paracetamol and ibuprofen sell in shops for as little as 99p, with Nurofen costing £3.20.

GPs and pharmacies also handed out 16,000 prescriptions for bread, 2,000 more than last year, costing taxpayers £239,000, £18,000 more than the same period in 2019.

Prescription listings include gluten-free loafs and Warburtons brown bread rolls.

Donald Cameron, Scottish Tory health spokesman, said there had been a big impact on NHS resources. He urged the Scottish Government to ensure health boards ‘are not denied much-needed funds’.

The Government said: ‘GPs are expected to prescribe responsibly, based solely on the health needs of patients.’