NHS surgeries in England have been reducing the amount of free ‘over-the-counter’ medicine they have on offer in a move to cut costs.
The NHS Minor Ailment Scheme is a service that allows patients to claim treatment for common illnesses at participating pharmacies for free.
The free support is still currently widely available across Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and selected pharmacies in England.
However, in an effort to cut costs over the past few years, more NHS surgeries in England have been reducing the amount of free ‘over-the-counter’ medicine, such as paracetamol, they have on offer.
In a consultation in 2022, NHS England found it could save around £190million a year by cutting free prescriptions for minor, short-term conditions, many of which will cure themselves” or cause no long-term effect on health.
Subsequently, over-the-counter medicines are no longer free in most NHS surgeries in England for the following conditions:
- 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.
However, people can still get free treatment in certain pharmacies in England that subscribe to the NHS Minor Ailment Scheme, such as some Boots stores.
What medicines are covered by the NHS Minor Ailment Scheme depends on the location, and it’s suggested that people talk to their local pharmacy directly to find out what they offer.
People can qualify for the NHS Minor Ailment Scheme if they qualify for free prescriptions. Some who are eligible include those aged over 60, people aged under 16, and others who have certain illnesses or receive certain benefits. To clarify eligibility, people can use the NHS’s three-minute tool that allows them to check more accurately.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been urged to shift eligibility for free prescriptions to align with the state pension age of 66, rather than 60.
The call comes ahead of the Government’s Autumn Budget, in which Ms Reeves aims to fill a “£22billion” hole in the nation’s finances.
A 2021 Government report estimated that increasing the age threshold for free prescriptions could save £6.2 billion over 10 years, potentially shifting the cost burden to older individuals needing medication for chronic conditions.
Liz Emerson, chief executive of the Intergenerational Foundation, said: “Aligning free prescriptions with the state pension age would improve intergenerational fairness by reducing the cost of the current 1.1 billion items distributed each year, 90 percent of which are free of charge.”
The backlash received from this year’s Winter Fuel Payment cuts may deter the Chancellor from making such a move, however, some argue that nothing is off the table.
Ms Reeves will announce the new Labour Government’s Autumn Budget on Wednesday, October 30.
