Guidance from the NHS has been issued indicating a total of 35 conditions GPs will no longer prescribe treatment for.
Minor conditions will no longer require prescription treatment and people will instead have to look for over the counter treatments, as reported by Birmingham Live.
It means people will be paying for certain treatments from over the counter services to treat the small problem they have, including threadworms and back pain.
The NHS said: "The NHS said: "A GP, nurse or pharmacist will generally not give you a prescription for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for a range of minor health conditions."
So which minor ailments will no longer be treated by the NHS through prescriptions?
Why won't my GP give prescriptions for certain treatment?
The NHS will not give prescriptions for certain treatments in a bid to save money on treating only small illnesses or ailments.
Drugs and prescriptions can be particularly costly for the NHS and people often book into see their GP for very small medical problems, like excessive earwax.
The move should encourage people to use over the counter treatments themselves, purchased out of their own pocket.
The NHS explained: "By reducing the amount the NHS spends on treating these minor health conditions, the NHS can give priority to treatments for patients with more serious conditions such as cancer and mental health problems."
However, certain over the counter treatments may not work when treating the condition in question and a doctor may prescribe treatments as a result, or if they feel the patient is unable to get over the counter supplies.
Meanwhile, vitamins and minerals may not be routinely given, depending on the patient, as an improved diet can be a way of people getting the vitamins they need.
What medications won't my GP prescribe medicine for?
Doctors will no longer prescribe medicine for conditions like excessive earwax, acute sore throat, conjunctivitis and colds, among others.
The decision taken by the NHS came after a public consultation performed by the health service, which ran from December 2017 to March 2018.
Here are the 35 conditions NHS doctors won't prescribe medication for:
- Acute sore throat
- Conjunctivitis
- Coughs, colds and nasal congestion
- Cradle cap
- Dandruff
- Diarrhoea (adults)
- Dry eyes/sore tired eyes
- Earwax
- Excessive sweating
- Haemorrhoids
- Head lice
- Indigestion and heartburn
- Infant colic
- Infrequent cold sores of the lip
- Infrequent constipation
- Infrequent migraine
- Insect bites and stings
- Mild acne
- Minor burns and scalds
- Mild cystitis
- Mild dry skin
- Mild irritant dermatitis
- Mild to moderate hay fever
- 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 tooth decay
- Ringworm/athlete's foot
- Sunburn
- Sun protection
- Teething/mild toothache
- Threadworms
- Travel sickness
- Warts and verrucae
