Community Pharmacist webinar: Conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care

NHS England has organised a targeted webinar for community pharmacists, to provide more information on the consultation and process

NHS Clinical Commissioners (NHSCC) and NHS England have launched a public consultation on reducing prescribing of over-the-counter medicines for 33 minor, short-term health concerns.

In the year prior to June 2017, the NHS spent approximately £569 million on prescriptions for medicines which can be purchased over the counter from a pharmacy and other outlets such as supermarkets.

These prescriptions include items for a condition:

• That is considered to be self-limiting and so does not need treatment as it will heal of its own accord;
• Which lends itself to self-care, i.e. that the person suffering does not normally need to seek medical care but may decide to seek help with symptom relief from a local pharmacy and use an over the counter medicine.