Published guidelines from NHS England could free up £100 million

NHS England could free up almost £100 million pounds for front line care every year by culling prescriptions for over the counter medicines.

New guidelines will stop doctors from offering NHS prescriptions for conditions that will clear up either on their own or can be treated with items that can be purchased easily over the counter from a pharmacy such as sore throats, indigestion, mouth ulcers and colds.

The NHS spends £22.8 million pounds a year on constipation prescriptions, £3 million on athletes foot and £2.8 million on diarrhea, which could fund 900 community nurses, pay for 810 ip operations, and fund 2,912 cataract operations.

Dr Graham Jackson, co-chair of NHS Clinical Commissioners and clinical chair of Aylesbury Vale Clinical Commissioning Group comments “On a daily basis, CCGs are forced to make difficult decisions that balance the needs of the individual against those of their entire local population. We recognise that it may be difficult for some patients who have previously been prescribed these products, but it is right that we prioritise our spending on those that provide the best outcomes for patients.”

“Every pound we save from cutting waste is another pound we can then invest in better A&E care, new cancer treatments and much better mental health services,” said NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens.