Patients in pain told to forget about prescription paracetamol

Patients in pain told to forget about prescription paracetamol

Local NHS chiefs have announced that treatments considered to be of low clinical value, and gluten free products, will no longer be available on prescription in the borough from Monday, September 4.

At its recent board meeting the CCG responsible for Southport residents within its West Lancashire arm approved a recommendation from its medicines optimisation committee and clinical executive committee, supported by local GP practices, to cease the funding of items to be considered of low clinical value.

These include:

Treatments for minor ailments, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen,

Treatments where there is little evidence that they have a real clinical benefit, such as cough syrups.

Products that do not require clinical treatment, such as bath/shower products.

Gluten free products which were previously available on prescription for people diagnosed with coeliac disease.

Last year, the CCG spent some £461,000 on low clinical value items and gluten free products, with further expense to NHS England on dispensing fees.