According to Nursing Notes patients will be allowed to see and be assessed by a GP but they won’t be handed a prescription and instead signposted to where to buy medicated products.
People who receive free prescriptions, such as those on a low-income or pregnant, will not automatically be exempt from the new rules. However, changes will not affect vulnerable patients or those with long-term or complex conditions or where the symptom could be associated with something more serious.
The list of health issues are:
- sore throats.
- Cold sores.
- Conjunctivitis.
- Coughs and colds.
- Nasal congestion.
- Cradle cap (seborrhoeic dermatitis).
- Haemorrhoids.
- Infant colic.
- Mild cystitis.
- Mild irritant dermatitis.
- Dandruff.
- Infrequent diarrhoea or constipation.
- Dry or sore eyes.
- Earwax.
- Excessive sweating (Hyperhidrosis).
- Head lice.
- Indigestion.
- Heartburn.
- Infrequent migraines.
- Insect bites and stings.
- Mild acne and/or dry skin.
- Sunburn or the need for sun protection.
- Mild to moderate hay fever.
- Seasonal rhinitis.
- Minor burns and scalds.
- Mild pain, discomfort and/fever (e.g. aches and sprains, headache, period pain, back pain).
- Mouth ulcers.
- Nappy rash.
- Oral thrush.
- Prevention of dental caries.
- Athletes foot
- Teething.
- Toothache.
- Ringworm or threadworm.
- Travel sickness
- Warts or verrucas.
The aim as ever is to make savings. In this case about 100 million pounds.
Perhaps if we asked all those who have burrowed their millions in to off shore accounts to help out then the health service could do what it was set up to do. Care!
Douglas James
However another viewpoint is offered by Simon Goddard:
I sort of agree with this, though am wary due to the drip, drip effect.
Due to the grip the drug company cartels seem to be permitted to have on the NHS many over the counter treatments cost a fraction of a prescription cost. Never understood how you can buy 16 paracetamol in Tesco for a fraction of the price the NHS are charged.
Will the £100 million saved be reallocated to other parts of the NHS? This is the real question we should be asking. Pre Brexit Brexiteers said ‘YES’ and more. Post Brexit Brexiteers say ‘NO’!
Douglas James
