Several health conditions are no longer being dealt with through NHS prescribed medicines in an effort to cut back on spending.
Sufferers of the 35 conditions - which include conjunctivitis, head lice and ringworm - will have to pay for over-the-counter treatments in pharmacies or supermarkets.
This will allow the NHS to focus their budget, with an increased emphasis on more serious conditions that would require priority treatment, Birmingham Live reports.
In Scotland, there are certain exemptions for minor illnesses that apply to younger people, people over the age of 60 and, people with a certain medical certificate, or people on certain benefits.
The NHS said: "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."
Many aren't aware of these rules, and still go to the GP seeking a prescription rather than to their local supermarket or pharmacy where they could buy the medicines.
The list includes the following 35 medical conditions:
- 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
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.
"This is because of government policy to reduce the amount of money the NHS spends on prescriptions for treating minor conditions that usually get better on their own.
Before the changes the NHS say that they spent around £569 million a year on prescriptions such as paracetamol.
Are there exemptions?
There are exemptions in cases where over the counter medicine doesn't prove effective treatment for one of these conditions, or if the prescriber believing that a patient is unable to treat themselves.
In Scotland, the NHS offer a Minor Ailment Service allowing certain people access prescriptions for minor conditions.
According to NHS Scotland, you may be eligible if you fall under one of the following categories: "Children, people aged 60 or over, people who hold a medical exemption certificate and people on certain benefits."
This will allow certain people to access prescribed treatment to a number of conditions on this list including cold sores, hay fever, athlete's foot and many others.
Did you know that there were no prescriptions for these conditions? Let us know in the comments.
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