GPs in England have been told to stop prescribing treatment for minor conditions. The NHS across the border said people there would have to buy over the counter remedies for themselves.
NHS England has issued a list of 35 treatments GPs can no longer give patients prescriptions for. The list includes remedies for back pain and threadworm. A GP, nurse or pharmacist in England will now generally not give prescriptions for over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor health conditions. But there is no such list in Wales. This is how many people are now waiting for NHS operations in Wales
The Welsh Government said GPs in Wales should prescribe medicines on the basis of clinical need. A spokesperson said there were no plans to prevent GPs from prescribing medicines for minor ailments but added that the majority of pharmacies in Wales could provide advice and help.
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A Welsh Government spokesperson, said: “GPs in Wales prescribe medicines on the basis of need using their clinical judgement. There are no plans to prevent GPs from prescribing medicines for minor ailments although the majority of pharmacies in Wales provide advice and free NHS treatment for many common minor ailments.”
So which minor ailments will no longer be treated by the NHS through prescriptions in England? Doctors there will no longer prescribe medicine for conditions like excessive earwax, acute sore throat, conjunctivitis and colds, among others. You can get more health news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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 in England won't prescribe medication for any longer:
- 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
