NHS set to no longer treat 36 conditions after prescription crackdown

Some products will not be routinely prescribed

People with conditions such as cold sores, sore throats, migraines and conjunctivitis will no longer be treated on the NHS.

Products like cough syrup, paracetamol, eye drops and sun cream will no longer be prescribed.

It is a decision which has received 'broad support' from the public in a consultation as the NHS attempts to save millions of pounds each year.

Many of these products can be purchased over the counter at a lower cost than what the NHS would incur.

Figures show that NHS England spent £22.8 million annually on constipation treatment, £3 million on athlete's foot and other fungal infections and £4,5 million on dandruff shampoos.

River View Surgery said: “GPs issued 1.1 billion prescription items at a cost of £9.2 billion in 2015/16.

"The vast majority were appropriate but many were for medicines, products or treatments that do not require a prescription and can be purchased over the counter from pharmacies, supermarkets, petrol stations, corner shops or other retailers in some cases at a much lower cost than the price paid by the NHS."

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens, said: “The NHS is one of the most efficient health services in the world but we’re determined to make taxpayers’ money go further.

"The NHS should not be paying for low value treatments and it’s right that we look at reducing prescriptions for medicines that patients can buy for a fraction of the price the NHS pays.”

The full list of conditions no longer treated by the NHS is as follows:

• 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