Residents across Staffordshire are being urged to stop seeking medicine for minor issues to free up GPs and support pharmacies - and help cut a £550 million NHS bill nationwide.
In a move by doctors across Staffordshire and Stoke, GPs will no longer prescribe medicine for a number of issues that are not considered serious.
Patients will instead be encouraged to make the most of community pharmacies, with over-the-counter remedies available for a number of issues including sore throats, coughs and sunburn.
Dr Manir Hussain, deputy director of primary care and medicines optimisation at the CCG, said: "We want to help educate people that many common conditions can be treated with over-the-counter-medicines from a pharmacy."
It is hoped that this will give GPs more time with patients who have more pressing or serious medical issues and encourage others to use pharmacies, which provide free advice and do not require appointments.
According to the East Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, dealing with minor conditions costs the NHS more than £550 million annually in England on medicines.
Dr Hussain added: "There is no need to see a GP or get a prescription. Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals who are experts in medicines and are able to advise on what conditions can be treated without a prescription.
"They will also advise if they think a visit to a GP is necessary.
"Some people think that a remedy prescribed by a GP will be more effective than the same medicine bought over the counter, but often this is not the case.
"Many people understand the pressures the NHS is under and agree that it is not a good use of a doctor’s time or NHS funds to prescribe medicines for conditions which may get better by themselves or be successfully managed by treatments available in pharmacies."
More advice can be found online by visiting eaststaffsccg.nhs.uk
These are the common conditions that can be managed by over-the-counter remedies:
- Acute sore throat,
- Cold sores,
- Conjunctivitis,
- Coughs, colds and nasal congestion,
- Haemorrhoids,
- Infant colic,
- Mild cystitis,
- Cradle cap,
- Dandruff,
- Diarrhoea in adults,
- Dry eyes,
- Head lice,
- Indigestion and heartburn,
- Insect bites and stings,
- Mild acne,
- Mild dry skin and sunburn,
- Sprains,
- Headaches,
- Nappy rash,
- Teething or mild toothache,
- Mild to moderate hay fever,
- Minor burns and scalds,
- Mouth ulcers,
- Oral thrush,
- Prevention of tooth decay,
- Athlete's foot,
- Travel sickness,
- Warts and verrucas.
