Conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care: A consultation on guidance for CCGs

Closed 14 Mar 2018

Opened 20 Dec 2017

Results updated 13 Aug 2019

Guidance on conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care

NHS England carried out a public consultation on 'reducing prescribing of over-the-counter medicines for minor, short-term health concerns' from December 2017 to March 2018.

In the year prior to June 2017, the NHS spent approximately £569 million on prescriptions for medicines which can be purchased over the counter from a pharmacy and other outlets such as supermarkets.

These prescriptions include items for a condition:

  • That is considered to be self-limiting and so does not need treatment as it will heal of its own accord;
  • Which lends itself to self-care, i.e. that the person suffering does not normally need to seek medical care but may decide to seek help with symptom relief from a local pharmacy and use an over the counter medicine.

Vitamins/minerals and probiotics have also been included in the consultation proposals as items of limited clinical effectiveness which are of high cost to the NHS.

NHS England partnered with NHS Clinical Commissioners after CCGs asked for a nationally co-ordinated approach to the development of commissioning guidance in this area to ensure consistency and address unwarranted variation. Conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care:  Guidance for CCGs aims to provide a consistent, national framework for CCGs to use. A series of implementation tools to support CCGs are also available.

Further to the publication of this guidance a letter from Professor Stephen Powis (National Medical Director, NHS England) addressed to GPs was published. It provides reassurance that that the commissioner will not find practices in breach of the GP contract if they follow the CCG guidance on routine prescribing of OTC items.

Overview

NHS England is launching a public consultation on reducing prescribing of over-the-counter medicines for 33 minor, short-term health concerns.

In the year prior to June 2017, the NHS spent approximately £569 million on prescriptions for medicines which can be purchased over the counter from a pharmacy and other outlets such as supermarkets.

These prescriptions include items for a condition:

  • That is considered to be self-limiting and so does not need treatment as it will heal of its own accord;

  • Which lends itself to self-care, i.e. that the person suffering does not normally need to seek medical care but may decide to seek help with symptom relief from a local pharmacy and use an over the counter medicine.

Vitamins/minerals and probiotics have also been included in the consultation proposals as items of low clinical effectiveness which are of high cost to the NHS.

NHS England has partnered with NHS Clinical Commissioners to carry out the consultation after CCGs asked for a nationally co-ordinated approach to the development of commissioning guidance in this area to ensure consistency and address unwarranted variation.

The intention is to produce a consistent, national framework for CCGs to use.

Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the commissioning guidance will need to be taken into account by CCGs in adopting or amending their own local guidance to GPs in primary care.

The aim of this consultation is to provide you with information about the proposed national guidance and to seek your views about the proposals.

During the consultation period we are also hosting face to face events and a series of webinars (online meetings), to provide further information about the proposed national guidance and to seek your views about the proposals. Please follow the links below to book a place.

Face to face

Webinars (online meetings)

Please note the consultation will close on Wednesday 14 March 2018 and we cannot accept any responses after this date.

Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment.

Audiences

  • Patients

Interests

  • Patient and public voice
  • Primary care
  • Public