NHS update over two groups being 'added' to free prescription list

36 conditions that are no longer treated on NHS as prescriptions crackdown continues

by · ChronicleLive

The NHS has stopped prescribing certain 'over the counter' remedies for common ailments in a continued crackdown on 'unnecessary' spending. This means that conditions such as cold sores, sore throats, migraines and conjunctivitis are no longer treated on the NHS by default.

Now, products like cough syrup, paracetamol, eye drops, and sun creams are also no longer being routinely prescribed. This decision, which was widely supported following a public consultation, aims to save the NHS millions of pounds each year.

Many of the products no longer prescribed can be purchased over the counter at a lower cost than the NHS would incur. NHS England says that £22.8 million was spent annually on constipation treatment, £3 million on athlete's foot and other fungal infections, and £4.5 million on dandruff shampoos.

River View Surgery stated: "GPs issued 1.1 billion prescription items at a cost of £9.2 billion in 2015/16. The vast majority were appropriate but many were for medicines, products or treatments that do not require a prescription and can be purchased over the counter from pharmacies, supermarkets, petrol stations, corner shops or other retailers in some cases at a much lower cost than the price paid by the NHS."

According to River View Surgery, these are the conditions affected by the changes since they were first introduced in 2022:

  • Acute sore throat
  • Infrequent cold sores of the lip
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Coughs and colds and nasal congestion
  • Cradle Cap (seborrhoeic dermatitis – infants)
  • Haemorrhoids
  • Infant colic
  • Mild cystitis
  • Mild irritant dermatitis
  • Dandruff
  • Diarrhoea (adults)
  • Dry eyes/sore (tired) eyes
  • Earwax
  • Excessive sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
  • Head lice
  • Indigestion and heartburn
  • Infrequent constipation
  • Infrequent migraine
  • Insect bites and sting
  • Mild acne
  • Mild dry skin
  • Sunburn
  • Sun protection
  • Mild to moderate hay fever/seasonal rhinitis
  • Minor burns and scalds
  • Minor conditions associated with pain, discomfort and/fever. (e.g. aches and sprains, headache, period pain, back pain)
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Nappy rash
  • Oral thrush
  • Prevention of dental caries
  • Ringworm/athlete's foot
  • Teething/mild toothache
  • Threadworms
  • Travel sickness
  • Warts and verruca