I probably am but fed up.

[Sleeplessinthesouth71]

So l have various health conditions so I have a prepayment certificate. However I am finding many items are now treated as OTC so aren't prescribed. Ie moisturisers for eczema type symptoms. Other items too.
I also have issues with verrucas long term. I have literally tried every OTC treatment including freeze gel etc but they remain there and only option is now to spend £££ at chiropodist with no guarantees.
Sane thing with ear wax. It remains despite weeks of olive oil use but only other option is to spend £55 at Specsavers with no promise of success. Feel I need to do this as my physical problems could be made worse by the wax build up. Happy to prescribe further drugs to treat the symptoms but they haven't really worked.
Just seems to me that NHS services have been cut to the bone due to funding changes abd it is the patient who suffers.
Obviously I know money needs spending on more serious issues but it is still disappointing.

Have you spoken to the GP about your ears? They should have referred you to ENT, who can put you on the list for syringing/suction. I totally agree with you about the other issues. I have a autoimmune condition and need prescriptions. Luckily I see a consultant twice a year, who writes to my GP etc. There's a massive lack of proper personalised care. It grates when I know well off people who use care of the chemist for their children for paracetamol etc.

Our practice nurse can syringe ears. Have you asked if it's possible at yours?

I've never been able to get a verruca treated on the NHS - even 25 years ago I had to go to a private chiropodist, and the same when my children were small. They also don't really treat wax build up anymore, and haven't done for a long time.

I have a prescription prepayment which I am thankful for as I have had 11 prescriptions in 6 weeks!

@InsertPunHere it was suggested I go to Specsavers as they don't do it.
I have seen verrucas treated on NHS on the TV but I guess it is rare.

@CornishGem1975 mine is really saving me much right now as I only have one or two items per month. Other items pretty rare but I am grateful for it still.

@Ponoka7 Thank you. I am now on my second appointment and second lot of tablets so hopefully if the symptoms aren't gone and the ear wax still won't shift I can be referred. If I thought my symptoms would go with removal I would bite the bullet and pay.

Yanbu about the transfer of costs from prescription to OTC, the costs of treatments falls disproportionately on some and this can be very hard to manage.

Sorry hopefully I can be referred

The problem is that lots of otc medicines are far far cheaper to buy than for the nhs to prescribe. It’s crap for you when you need a whole bunch of medications.

When I’m empress of the world, people will have a enough money not to have to worry about buying (for example) nail fungus treatments (or food, or loft insulation, or heating...), thereby freeing up nhs funding for stuff that really needs it.

We have a dedicated clinic at a local hospital for wax removal, perhaps we are lucky. If the wax build up is causing hearing loss, then it should be treated. It's something that my local ENT Nurse is passionate about. Hearing loss has always been underfunded and not treated adequately. If there's a lack of services in your local area, then it's an MP matter. Likewise verruca treatment. We have a NHS funded wart/verruca clinic for certain categories of patients. 25 years ago I was taking my eldest DD to them.

Have you actually got ear wax thought? That's worth checking.
A year ago I was certain I had a huge amount of build up. Did olive oil for 2 weeks, went to get it syringed (yes, at the NHS doctors) and they looked and said there was nothing to see (and I've had that confirmed by a friend since, should have checked with them first!).
What they suggested was it could be inner ear. I found some success with some decongestion tablets which definitely eased it.

@MargaretThursday yes definitely. Been examined twice by Health Professionals and told it is still there. Unless they are wrong of course.
The cream I use actually costs more than a prescription charge @Saz12 but it would be cheaper if I purchased a smaller pot. Used for both washing and moisturising.

Oh yes @Ponoka7 certain categories of people get access to treatments for verrucas but not everyone, normally of a certain age or with a medical issue. If you're a young otherwise healthy person it's a sort-it-yourself-situation.

Similar for wax and ears. NHS website directs you to a pharmacist and says that not all GPs remove wax and that you may have to pay privately. This is one of those things that was widely available but started to get cut a few years back.

My husband gets moisturisers for his eczema prescribed (and so covered by his prepayment certificate), along with protective gloves for his hands and his steroids/immunosuppressants. Might be worth another word with your GP?

Treatment for verrucae generally doesn't work. They return in most situations until the body deals with the virus. Therefore limited NHS spending on this would be a waste of money.

The best option for removing them was actually found to be the duct tape method - and this is still not a high percentage of success (but there are clinical guides on how to do it)

Ear wax build up - it's not a serious medical issue and is not deserving of limited NHS funds. If it bothers you, it's up to you to pay for this. It's likely to return though.

The NHS is not there for every tingle, ache, irritation and minor issue - we all have to take responsibility and learn to manage some things.

Without sounding rude, these issues seem extremely trivial. I wonder if you have some health anxiety? Could you get a referral for some CBT to help you deal with these worries?

I had verrucas treated on the NHS. I started off with one large one on the underside of my foot, which was very painful to walk on but that’s they wouldn’t treat. 10 years and a lot of over the counter treatments later with no success, I went to see doctor about something unrelated and she noticed that I was limping. I mentioned it was because of my verrucas that hurt to walk on and that were pressing inside my shoes, the doctor asked to take a look and once she did she immediately referred me for treatment. by then the original one was nearly a half inch in size, and surrounded by another 40 on the ball of my foot and toes. Had the largest ones frozen several times a month for a few months and was given a treatment to use at home as well, took about 10 months for them all to completely clear up and heal.

@willingtolearn having vertigo for weeks is not trivial IMO. I can't drive anmy balance is realky bad I bearky fell several times. I have been told removing the wax might help. .
The verrucas are not too bad at the moment and they were merely an example of issue I have previously faced.
@Arghh1234 already had CBT for low mood and anxiety and it was shit. A shitty course which was pretty obvious and no follow up fir montgs. . Most of the reasons fir my low mood are actually related to errors made by the GP who than tried to cover up errors so yes maybe I feelings are skewed.
@ queen I have a hospital appointment for my mismanaged condition soon. Hopefully they will prescribe it.

@dancinfeet yes I struggled to walk at their worse too but no joy.I had taken years of OCT treatments and gaffer tape to get them to this position.
That sounds awful.

Are you working? Maybe getting out the house and having something to distract you, and the social interaction may help?

I'm having to go via work bupa just to get a sodding gp appointment now so I think the nhs is a shitstorm at the moment

Get an ear camera and a home syringe kit.

The camera makes sure it is wax and nothing more sinister. Soften wax with ear drops then use home kit to syringe. Check with ear camera all is OK. The camera is good for keeping an eye on what is going on afterwards too. I did this and I've not had a problem since as I can clean my ears before it builds up.

Thanks @Arghh1234 I do,work part time and often meet friends etc. I am doing ok. I just hate feeling so physically awful especially first thing ever day. Not even sure the removal will help.
Thanks for suggestion @Tumbleweed101 .
It sure is @teaandtoastwithmarmite

Apologies @willingtolearn I think I tagged you in error.