I'm really shocked by this thread.
A few random thoughts, not necessarily in a logical order:
The NHS has been told not to provide prescriptions for paracetamol to save money. I had thought this applied to TTO's and GP prescriptions which is entirely different to inpatient pain management.
For effective pain relief analgesics should be taken regularly - waiting until you are in pain will mean being in pain whilst waiting for pain relief to kick in. That's why there are specific drug round times for regular administration.
Post LSCS and post vaginal birth the contraction of the uterus can be extremely painful, quite apart from the abdominal surgery and/or perineal damage and haemorrhoids, not to mention engorged breasts. Plenty of pain to go around!
When I was a student midwife, rather a long time ago, we used to give out Aspirin and papaveretum to anyone who wanted it, for the "after pains" (never mind the post surgery pain). This is discontinued now, and would not be considered safe, but I have to say - the women loved it! How times have changed.
In the USA, over prescription of opiates has caused significant problems with addiction. My niece had appendicitis while visiting New York and was given a month's supply of oxycodone to take home, which my sister promptly binned. In the UK, at least in my hospital, post knee replacement (which is extremely painful) standard pain relief is six doses/three days of oxycodone. They rarely prescribe it to take home. We don't have a comparable prescription opioid problem to the USA. (Yes I know lots of people are addicted to a range of prescription drugs, but I'm just pointing out that thanks to the NHS/NICE and prescribing policies we keep a bit more of a handle on it here).
Personally I think it's perfectly reasonable to expect all patients having elective surgery to have a supply of over the counter pain relief at home, however the hospital should be properly managing post operative pain, offering suitable analgesia and managing patient medications safely. It's really not a good idea for patients to be self administering on an ad hoc basis whilst ward staff are coming along offering various other medications. A recipe for disaster I would think.
It's also odd routinely instructing purchase of ibuprofen - not everyone can take ibuprofen and in my hospital anyone prescribed NSAIDS, ie ibuprofen or diclofenac is also routinely prescribed omeprazole or similar for gastric protection. A colleague took ibuprofen for the first time after taking part in a weekend staff endurance event on Dartmoor and promptly had a gastric bleed and had to be hospitalised for several days. A fit young woman with no previous health problems.