Over the Counter (OTC) Medicines Prescribing
Your GP, or other healthcare professional, will generally no longer give you a prescription for over the counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns.
This is because of national guidance introduced in 2018 to reduce the amount of money the NHS spends on prescriptions for treating minor conditions that usually get better on their own.
Over the counter medicines are those that are available to buy from your local pharmacy or supermarket.
This includes prescriptions for a range of minor health concerns, including:
- Self-limiting conditions (will heal or be cured without treatment)
- Conditions which lend themselves to self-care (don’t usually require medical advice)
- Some vitamins, minerals or probiotics
The cost to the NHS for many of the medicines used to treat minor conditions are often higher than the prices for which they can be purchased over the counter. This is because there are hidden costs when a medicine is prescribed. For example, a pack of 16 paracetamol 500mg tablets can be purchased for less than 50p from a pharmacy or supermarket, but the cost to the NHS is around three times as much.
