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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| What's the truth about free NHS Calpol? | What's the truth about free NHS Calpol? |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| It all started with a post from a mum on Facebook and led to a huge hike in hits on the NHS Choices website. | It all started with a post from a mum on Facebook and led to a huge hike in hits on the NHS Choices website. |
| When buying some Calpol in a large pharmacy chain, the poster said she had discovered, to her "amazement" that "if you register your details under the 'minor ailments scheme', all medicines etc for children are free". | When buying some Calpol in a large pharmacy chain, the poster said she had discovered, to her "amazement" that "if you register your details under the 'minor ailments scheme', all medicines etc for children are free". |
| She added: "They are not allowed to advertise it, but you can save a small fortune on Calpol, Piriton, Sudocrem, plasters etc. I wish I had known eight years ago!" | She added: "They are not allowed to advertise it, but you can save a small fortune on Calpol, Piriton, Sudocrem, plasters etc. I wish I had known eight years ago!" |
| So, is it true? | So, is it true? |
| For a start, pharmacists would not prescribe Calpol. In some areas, they might give you the generic, unbranded equivalent, which is much cheaper and therefore less costly to the NHS. | |
| Plasters are not on the list of hand-outs either. Dressings for minor burns perhaps - but not children's plasters. | Plasters are not on the list of hand-outs either. Dressings for minor burns perhaps - but not children's plasters. |
| So let's rewind a little. What help can pharmacists offer when it comes to common health problems? | So let's rewind a little. What help can pharmacists offer when it comes to common health problems? |
| Easy access | Easy access |
| The "minor ailments scheme" provides the answer. It has been around for about 10 years in some local pharmacies. | The "minor ailments scheme" provides the answer. It has been around for about 10 years in some local pharmacies. |
| It is aimed at those who can't afford to pay for certain medicines or who can't access their GP easily. | It is aimed at those who can't afford to pay for certain medicines or who can't access their GP easily. |
| The idea is that local pharmacists take some of the pressure off busy GPs and packed A&E departments, by offering over-the-counter advice and consultations. | The idea is that local pharmacists take some of the pressure off busy GPs and packed A&E departments, by offering over-the-counter advice and consultations. |
| This is particularly useful when GP practices are closed, in the evenings and at weekends, when pharmacies are often open. | This is particularly useful when GP practices are closed, in the evenings and at weekends, when pharmacies are often open. |
| The scheme should enable people to get treatment or advice more quickly and more easily. | The scheme should enable people to get treatment or advice more quickly and more easily. |
| The type of ailments they can treat may include coughs, colds, headaches, hay fever, insect bites and stings, eczema, earache and diarrhoea. | The type of ailments they can treat may include coughs, colds, headaches, hay fever, insect bites and stings, eczema, earache and diarrhoea. |
| So if you have a child with a high temperature on a Saturday afternoon (when else?), you can visit your local pharmacist to seek advice. | So if you have a child with a high temperature on a Saturday afternoon (when else?), you can visit your local pharmacist to seek advice. |
| The pharmacist will need to see the child, of course, and will then decide if prescribing a medicine is necessary. | The pharmacist will need to see the child, of course, and will then decide if prescribing a medicine is necessary. |
| If you're elderly and worried about what you can safely take for a cold with other prescription medicines, then your pharmacist should also be the first port of call. | If you're elderly and worried about what you can safely take for a cold with other prescription medicines, then your pharmacist should also be the first port of call. |
| Free on the NHS? | Free on the NHS? |
| The rules on paying for what's prescribed are not always straightforward. | The rules on paying for what's prescribed are not always straightforward. |
| In general, if you don't pay for prescriptions - and children under 16 and adults over 60 don't - you will probably receive them free of charge, on the NHS, just as you would from a GP. | In general, if you don't pay for prescriptions - and children under 16 and adults over 60 don't - you will probably receive them free of charge, on the NHS, just as you would from a GP. |
| If you normally pay a prescription charge, then you will be charged for this service too. | If you normally pay a prescription charge, then you will be charged for this service too. |
| But this doesn't apply to all minor ailment schemes, because they are not all the same across the country. | But this doesn't apply to all minor ailment schemes, because they are not all the same across the country. |
| In Scotland, all community pharmacies run the scheme, but in England, Wales and Northern Ireland the scheme is run by the NHS locally, so it won't be available everywhere. | In Scotland, all community pharmacies run the scheme, but in England, Wales and Northern Ireland the scheme is run by the NHS locally, so it won't be available everywhere. |
| Some areas only provide the service free to parents who receive low-income related benefits. | |
| Other NHS areas may not fund dressings or provide anything for children who present with coughs and colds. | Other NHS areas may not fund dressings or provide anything for children who present with coughs and colds. |
| To find out what your local scheme offers, it is advisable to contact your nearest pharmacy and ask. | |
| 'Only if you need it' | 'Only if you need it' |
| Neal Patel, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, says people shouldn't get carried away. | Neal Patel, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, says people shouldn't get carried away. |
| "You can't just walk into a pharmacy and stock up on Calpol for your kids. That's not the way it works." | "You can't just walk into a pharmacy and stock up on Calpol for your kids. That's not the way it works." |
| Pharmacists, he says, have to make sure the treatment is appropriate, following a consultation similar to one carried out by a GP. | Pharmacists, he says, have to make sure the treatment is appropriate, following a consultation similar to one carried out by a GP. |
| If pharmacists aren't sure what they are dealing with or if a patient has a more serious concern, they will be referred to their GP. | If pharmacists aren't sure what they are dealing with or if a patient has a more serious concern, they will be referred to their GP. |
| Ash Soni, a pharmacist in Streatham, south London, who runs the scheme in his pharmacy, said he often acts as kind of patient filter for GPs. | Ash Soni, a pharmacist in Streatham, south London, who runs the scheme in his pharmacy, said he often acts as kind of patient filter for GPs. |
| "It's an opportunity for people to just walk in on the day and see a pharmacist for advice, rather than waiting for a GP appointment." | "It's an opportunity for people to just walk in on the day and see a pharmacist for advice, rather than waiting for a GP appointment." |
| But he isn't there to hand out medicines, he explains. | But he isn't there to hand out medicines, he explains. |
| "You'll get it only if you need it." | "You'll get it only if you need it." |
| Big savings | Big savings |
| In case the public is unsure what the minor ailment service is, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has produced an animated video to explain more. | In case the public is unsure what the minor ailment service is, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has produced an animated video to explain more. |
| The NHS Choices website has more information on common problems your pharmacist can help with and a way of searching for pharmacies in your local area to find out if they offer the service. | The NHS Choices website has more information on common problems your pharmacist can help with and a way of searching for pharmacies in your local area to find out if they offer the service. |
| The minor ailments scheme is clearly not widely known about because these web pages experienced a massive rise in hits in the past week or so. | The minor ailments scheme is clearly not widely known about because these web pages experienced a massive rise in hits in the past week or so. |
| NHS Choices told the BBC that the search term "minor ailments scheme" went from being outside the top 10,000 to the fifth most popular in the space of a few days. | NHS Choices told the BBC that the search term "minor ailments scheme" went from being outside the top 10,000 to the fifth most popular in the space of a few days. |
| And research suggests the scheme, if rolled out nationally, could save the NHS in the region of £1bn. | And research suggests the scheme, if rolled out nationally, could save the NHS in the region of £1bn. |
| This is because the cost of a consultation with a GP is nearly three times higher than the cost of a consultation with a community pharmacist. | This is because the cost of a consultation with a GP is nearly three times higher than the cost of a consultation with a community pharmacist. |
| So as long as the scheme is not abused and we use the pharmacists' service responsibly, the permanently cash-strapped NHS should benefit in the long run. | So as long as the scheme is not abused and we use the pharmacists' service responsibly, the permanently cash-strapped NHS should benefit in the long run. |