Download Frequently asked questions - prescribing over-the

Frequently asked questions - prescribing over-the-counter medicines for
minor ailments
With a growing population, rising demand for services and a limited budget, Bath and
North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (BaNES CCG), like other NHS
organisations, has to review all the services we commission to ensure that we are
using NHS funds appropriately and fairly. We have reviewed our prescribing policy
for over-the counter medicines and are proposing to stop prescriptions for
antihistamines and painkillers when they are used to treat short-term minor ailments.
1
Who are BaNES CCG?
We are the NHS organisation that not only monitors and coordinates but also
commissions or purchases health services on behalf of everyone living in Bath and
North East Somerset.
We are a membership organisation formed of the 26 GP practices across
B&NES. For many patients, their local GP is their main point of contact with the
NHS and it is the GPs’ clinical expertise and patient insight that helps the CCG to
ensure health services are the best they can be. But GPs are not doing this alone.
Within the CCG we work with a team of health care professionals and patient
representatives to plan and deliver services.
2
How do we commission NHS services?
The NHS is funded through taxation and this provides a fixed budget to buy and
provide health services for the whole population. Commissioning health services is
about understanding the health of a population group, planning what services to
purchase to meet those needs and monitoring the quality of services that are
delivered. As local commissioners, the CCG is responsible for assessing the needs
of people living in B&NES and deciding which health services to purchase for our
population. NHS England is responsible for direct commissioning of services outside
the remit of clinical commissioning groups such as specialist services, dentistry,
pharmacy, optometrists, offender health, military and veteran health and specialised
services.
The challenge faced by organisations across the NHS is how to spend their limited
budgets in a way that benefits the health of the whole population while ensuring that
services also meet the needs of individuals and delivers value for money. This year
we have been allocated £223 million to buy health services for people living in
B&NES. With a growing population, rising demand for services and a limited budget,
like other NHS organisations, the CCG has to evaluate every service it commissions
to see if it offers good quality, value for money and is an effective and equitable way
of using our resources.
1
3
What are over-the-counter (OTC) medicines?
Over-the-counter medicines are medicines that can be brought over the counter from
either community pharmacies or general retailers such as supermarkets. They are
readily available to buy because they are deemed safe enough for people to selfmanage, short-term, minor ailments.
4
Why is this proposal being made?
We need to ensure the health budget for B&NES is spent as effectively as possible.
Last year the CCG spent nearly £500,000 on painkillers and antihistamines.
Paracetamol and other painkillers are widely available in supermarkets and at local chemists
and cost around 1p per tablet, compared to 3p per tablet on the NHS.
We do not believe this spend represents good value for money and that the money
we invest on prescriptions for minor ailments should be used to commission other
services which could be of greater benefit to patients.
We have also taken into consideration that a significant proportion of GP appointments, GP
practice and community pharmacy time is taken up in processing prescriptions for minor
ailments which can be managed by patients or their carers without access to prescribed
medicines.
5
Who will the proposal affect?
We are proposing to stop funding prescriptions for two groups of over-the-counter
medicines (painkillers and antihistamines) where they are used to treat short-term,
minor ailments such as mild hayfever, headache, coughs and colds.
Anyone registered with a GP in B&NES who would expect to obtain painkillers and
hayfever tablets on prescription has the potential to be affected unless it is NOT to
treat a minor ailment. However, the majority of the medications or alternatives can
be purchased over the counter for less than the cost of a prescription.
Health advice is available from your community pharmacy which may suggest some
medicines that you might want to purchase in order to manage your own health,
2
6
How are we engaging on this proposal?
We are inviting patients, stakeholders and local clinicians to tell us their views on our
proposal to stop prescribing over-the-counter medicines for minor ailments.
A period of public engagement is therefore open from Thursday 24 November to
Wednesday 21 December to ensure patients, carers, health professionals and other
key stakeholders have an opportunity to share their views on the proposals and to
suggest any additional cost-effective actions the CCG could take to support people.
There is an online survey at www.banesccg.nhs.uk or you can ask for a printed copy
to be sent to you by calling 01225 831 853.
.
3