OTCs are no longer supported on NHS prescriptions
Many common conditions can be treated at home with the support of your local pharmacy if needed. Over the counter products for self-care are things like pain relief and cough and cold remedies. These items can be bought from pharmacies and stores without a prescription. They are also often cheaper this way. You can get them without an appointment or seeing a doctor.
NHS Barking, Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge CCGs no longer support the routine prescribing of over the counter products for common conditions and minor ailments that are short term illnesses and/or will get better with time.
These include:
- Acne treatment
- Analgesic/pain relief treatment (short term pain, fever, headache, muscle/joint injury)
- Anti-fungal treatment (athlete’s foot, oral and vaginal thrush, ring worm)
- Antiperspirant treatment (excessive sweating)
- Cold sore treatment
- Colic treatment
- Constipation treatment
- Cough, cold and sore throat treatment
- Diarrhoea treatment
- Ear wax remover
- Eye treatments/lubricating products (Conjunctivitis/dry eyes)
- Haemorrhoid (piles) treatment
- Hayfever treatment
- Head lice treatment
- Herbal and complementary treatments
- Indigestion and heartburn (dyspepsia) treatment
- Mouth ulcer treatment
- Nappy rash treatment
- Scabies treatment
- Threadworm treatment
- Topical steroid treatment (insect bites/stings, contact dermatitis, nappy rash)
- Vitamins and minerals
- Wart and verruca
Read the full position statement from the NHS CCG (PDF, 429KB)