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After a determined attempt to reduce wasteful spending on common illnesses, the NHS has stopped prescribing a number of over-the-counter treatments. Products that are affected include eye drops, sun cream, cough syrup, and paracetamol, among others, and are no longer routinely given.
The NHS first proposed plans to restrict prescriptions for mild ailments, which were met with "broad support" during public surveys, claiming that the change would save millions of pounds a year, according to Express.co.uk. Some of these items are less expensive to purchase over-the-counter than the NHS would.
NHS England drew attention to the significant costs associated with dandruff shampoos (£4.5 million), athlete's foot and fungal infections (£3 million), and constipation (£22.8 million annually). According to reports, during 2015–16, general practitioners wrote 1.1 billion prescription items, most of which were required, at an astounding cost of £9.2 billion.
Conditions no longer treated by the NHS
According to Riverview Surgery, a GP practice in Sunderland, these are the 35 conditions affected by the changes which were 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.
