Saving NHS money/ e.g. paracetamol over the counter

[Littlepleasures]

I try as much as I can to use the NHS responsibly and always have, especially now that it appears to be strapped for cash. I've suffered from allergies for years, but have always bought anti histamines over the counter (Wilko do ceterizine, one months supply for £1.50) and still do, even now that I'm retired on a very low income and can get prescriptions for free. I notice, that recently, the NHS has stopped supplying these free except in cases of financial hardship anyway
Now however, I'm over 60 with a chronic pain condition and need to take regular paracetamol/cocodamol. I tried buying it myself but was constantly running out because of the limit on only buying two packs at a time. This week doc gave me a prescription for 100 cocodamol - the over the counter dose- which I did get filled, even though I could have bought them for around a £1 in Wilkos. There must be a way round this waste of money.Surely, if a patient is able and willing to pay for these low cost drugs we should have the option to buy them over the counter in higher amounts, at the low generic price offered by the likes of Wilkos, when we go to the pharmacy. I'm not exactly rolling in it, but I don't mind stumping up £2 a month to save the NHS £17. Who exactly is pocketing the huge difference between what the drug costs and the prescription price?

Surely the NHS prescription charge s the same for aspirin and really expensive drugs. So the NHS loses money on the expensive ones but surely doesn't give the drug companies 17 quid for a few painkillers.

Who exactly is pocketing the huge difference between what the drug costs and the prescription price?

Presumably there are extra costs incurred in issuing and dispensing a prescription, compared to buying it OTC?

Prescriptions can't be dispensed without a pharmacist present, and at the pharmacy I go to, they are always checked by a second person after being made up. That's extra staffing costs, for a start.

My friend went to the doctor and his advice was paracetamol and rest (she has arthritis). He then gave her a prescription for paracetamol and as we are in Scotland it's free if it's on prescription, she challenged it saying 'no they are 40pence I'll buy them and save the NHS a few quid!' The dr said as he had advised them he had to write a prescription for them. Madness you can pick them up in Aldi for 39pence.

Yes, the cost is in the prescription, not the drug. Maybe your pharmacist would let you buy it over the counter with your prescription, even if the supermarket won't.

I was always told that the people paying the prescription charge for painkillers/calpol/hayfever meds basically subsidised the more expensive drugs that people get on prescription.

E.g. I know my anti-depressants cost a lot more than £8 but I know that the amoxicillin or hayfever medication DP ever gets costs a lot less than that, so it sort of balances out.

I think GPs should be able to do an exception certificate for people who need larger doses of things like paracetamol which state the amount they need to buy. This could be stamped and dated by the pharmacist to make sure you weren't buying more than needed.

That said I am all for people paying for their own in general but I think if someone needs a medication regularly as part of an ongoing treatment plan then I have no issue with that being part of their normal repeat prescription.

MrsTerry
Thought that was why NHS has stopped prescribing low cost drugs like antihistamines. Am I wrong? If it balances out the cost to NHS charging patients the same for low cost as for expensive drugs, then that would make sense.

Pickle. I'd like that option. I will ask the pharmacist next time although not sure if, being a small business, his prices are as low as Lidl.

I agree OP. DM takes paracetamol regularly for arthritis and has to have it on prescription so she can get enough to last her. She's nearly blind and can't walk far and so can't get out to get buy it over the counter regularly and so a prescription is the only way, despite the fact she'd willingly pay for it.

Cocodamol is a drug that can cause dependence and is sometimes abused, hence there are some controls in place and people who need a long-term supply will need a prescription. YANBU to get that prescription filled.

You could ask the pharmacist about the cost if you got it on a private prescription.

Who exactly is pocketing the huge difference between what the drug costs and the prescription price?
I was always told that the people paying the prescription charge for painkillers/calpol/hayfever meds basically subsidised the more expensive drugs that people get on prescription.

If there is a difference between the drug cost and prescription price, the money would go to the government but every pharmacist I have been to always advises if something is cheaper to purchase over the counter and recommends that rather than paying the prescription charge for it.

Ideally, the NHS should not prescribe these things for anyone except those in financial difficulty but in reality, if a patient kicks up enough of a fuss, prescribers usually give in and supply a prescription to avoid complaints (and all the red tape that comes with them).

Snowballs
Thanks for the tip! Bought 10 packets the last time I was there as it can sometimes be hard to get in the winter. I'm an all year sniffer and itcher!
Which site do you use?

Thanks Snowballs. Cross post!

Sirzy I think that's genius!

Ideally, the NHS should not prescribe these things for anyone except those in financial difficulty but in reality, if a patient kicks up enough of a fuss, prescribers usually give in and supply a prescription to avoid complaints (and all the red tape that comes with them).

What about those who need regular medication but can't buy it in large enough quantities? 32 paracetamol would last my DM 4 days and she would be relying on someone to get it for her. Getting it on prescription means she's always covered and the pharmacy actually deliver it for her.

Try a local independent pharmacist...... In mine they seem to look you up and down briefly and then sell you whatever you want. Always wonder if they are breaking rules.

Hospitals could definitely save money by asking first if people have paracetamol. I had minor planned surgery and was amazed to be handed a pack of paracetamol when I was leaving- told them I didn't need it and they said no one will be able to use it because it has been prescribed and has the label.

I understand that the doctor may not be around at discharge so prescriptions are done in advance, but if they asked when I was admitted the money could have been saved. That unit must treat many patients like me.

Does anyone know if kids can take those cetirizine tablets? My kids are both in daily cetirizine syrup but can swallow (small) tablets...

I get prescription cocodamol but they are ones you can't get OTC.
It is madness what they will give you on prescription. DD needed some antihistamine recently for chickenpox and the dr was going to prescribe it. I said to not worry and I would buy some for her!

I know people who get calpol on prescription to avoid paying for it which annoys me!

Generic drugs are not always cheap for the NHS to buy and prescribe. Due to ridiculous agreements they often have to put up with price rises of a few hundred percent over the life of the agreement with a generics company. It is disgraceful as many of these drugs cost pennies to make, literally pennies.....

Of course we should be able to buy paracetamol in larger quantities! I'd always heard it was to dissuade people from overdosing. If that's true, it seems ridiculous, because it's hardly difficult to go to another shop. Or even queue again in the same one, if you're in a decent sized supermarket.