35 conditions no longer treated on the NHS due to crackdown on prescriptions
by Alex Evans · ChronicleLiveIn a bid to curb 'unnecessary' expenditure, the NHS has ceased prescribing a variety of common 'over-the-counter' treatments for minor conditions. Cold sores, sore throats, migraines, and conjunctivitis will not be routinely taken on by the NHS, alongside items like cough syrup, paracetamol, eye drops, and sun creams.
This follows proposals which aimed to cut prescriptions for minor ailments—a move that garnered "broad support" during public consultation.
The NHS can save millions each year through these measures. For example, NHS England disclosed an annual spending of £22.8 million on constipation remedies, £3 million for treating athlete's foot and other fungal conditions, and £4.5 million on anti-dandruff shampoos.
River View Surgery commented on the issue, saying: "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."
Conditions no longer treated by the NHS, reports the Express.
River View Surgery has listed the conditions affected by changes 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.
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