Health professionals in Warrington are no longer able to prescribe additional medications for short term minor health problems, unless there is a specialist clinical need or for certain other exemptions.
This includes:
- Medicines and treatments that are available to purchase over-the-counter, used for the treatment of minor, short-term medical conditions
- Medicines and treatments where there is limited evidence of clinical benefit or cost-effectiveness
- Medicines and treatments that are prescribed to treat conditions where there is no clinical need for treatment
Such as:
- Pain killers for minor aches and pains
- Tonics, vitamins and health supplements
- Ear wax removers
- Lozenges, throat sprays, mouthwashes, gargles and toothpastes
- Indigestion remedies for occasional use
- Creams for bruising, tattoos, and scars
- Hair removal creams
- Moisturisers and bath additives for dry skin
- Sun creams
- Foods and food supplements
- Pain relief cream/ointment for short-term use
- Oral antihistamines for hay fever
- Decongestant nasal sprays and tablets
- Teething gels and mouth ulcer treatments
- Vaginal moisturisers (for example lubricant gels and creams)
- Warts and verrucae paints
- Heparinoid gel/cream
- Antiperspirants
- Antifungal treatments (for example for athletes foot)
- Treatments for bites and stings
- Treatments for cold sores
- Antibacterial eye drops
- Treatment for diarrhoea
- Head lice treatments
- Treatments for infant colic
- Creams/ointments for nappy rash
- Threadworm treatments
- Treatments for vaginal thrush
- Haemorrhoids treatment
- Cough preparations
- Eye care products (for example blepharitis wipes)
- Probiotics
- Treatments for mild acne
- Dandruff and cradle cap treatments
- Baby milks (unless a clinical need for a specialist milk)
For further information, about how you can be prepared to self-care at home for minor ailments, please visit: NHS Halton and Warrington Clinical Commissioning Groups