Do you all know about the Minor Ailments Service?

[ShitsNGiggles]

Just checking that you all know about it as I didn't until my lovely friend told me about it this morning.

hopes it's available throughout the country and not just in my area

If you want people to know about it hadn't you better actually tell them something about it other than the name?

Sorry, yuo're right, I just didn't want to waffle on aobut it if it is already well known

In my area if you don't pay for prescriptions, there are certain items (for 'minor ailments') you can get from the pharmacy, for free, without needing a prescription.

It includes things like hayfever remedies, stuff for piles, etc, etc.

It also includes thank the Lord Calpol & Anbusol.

Wish they had it in my area.

How do you know if you have it in your area?

Oh sorry just realised it's for people who don't pay for prescriptions.

familyj are you sure they don't? It's not publicised in ours, I had to be told & then ask instore!

I'm trying to find somewhere that says where you can get it...

okay I can't find a definitive list online, but if you do a search on 'minor ailments service' it brings up various areas.

I know that all Boots stores do it, if the local area is participating.

Sorry to bang on about it, but with the amount of Calpol my family has gone through recently, it would've saved us a small fortune!

Why are things like this never publicised?

So they just prescribe calpol to anyone then cos kids dont pay for prescriptions???

so - does that mean all children given that children don't pay for prescriptions ? So we should all be able to get calpol for free if your area is participating ?

Where I live it is not just for people who don't pay for prescriptions. I think that they charge £5 if you don't have exemption. Both Boots and our little Co-op chemist do it and they have a form to complete with all of the medications that they can prescribe. We have had Otex for ringworm, laxatives and drops for conjunctivitis.

More info here. Scroll to the bottom

Free Calpol for children yes if they display symptoms that require calpol. You just have to complete the form they give you.

It is for people who don't pay for prescriptions yes, but remember that under 16s get free prescriptions. I have got free no-name generic calpol from pharmacy for dd when she was having her jabs.

I think you need to register with the pharmacy somehow.

NHS Norfolk does not run a Minor Ailments scheme.

bah - doesn't work in my area.

throck that's right. I KNOW! I've been paying for calpol for 3 years without knowing this gem of information!

All you need is your / child's NHS number to register them at the pharmacy.

Oh just one thing - some pharmacists allow you to have it without the child being there, but the 'law' is that the pharmacist has to see the child.

My friend had a stand-up row with one pharmacist who insisted on her waking her poorly child who was fast asleep in the car (with an adult in there too, not on own!) so he could see her. He refused to walk the 20m to the car park too. I know he was just following the rules, but come on....

Hello,

We've moved this thread to General Health as we feel it's a much better fit.

Thanks
Sandy
MNHQ

okeydokey - thanks

I wish things like this were better publicised - if you're going to offer a service then tell people about it!

Don't think they want us to know about it. They can point to it, say we offer this service, but the take up is low so obviously not needed - we can cut that one. Let's ignore that we didn't tell any one about it.

Cynical ? me ?

yeah you make a good point there throck