Patients will be able to get prescription medicines for seven common health conditions directly from pharmacies in England under a blueprint designed to ease the pressure on GPs’ appointments.
For the first time, pharmacists will be able to write their own prescriptions for the conditions, under health changes ministers and NHS England chiefs hope will be introduced from this winter after a consultation with the industry.
Here are the seven conditions and their typical treatments:
Earache
Earache and ear pain is one of the most frequently experienced health conditions, particularly among young children. It can be painful, but is not usually a sign of anything serious.
Some of the most common causes include an ear infection, flu, a cold, sore throat or tonsillitis.
Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can usually help most patients see off the condition themselves. But in some cases, for instance if the earache has lasted more than three days, you may need prescribed medication.
Uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women
UTIs affect the bladder, urethra or kidneys. They are much more common in women, and the primary care blueprint proposes that only women could be prescribed treatment direct from a pharmacist.
UTIs may be treated with antibiotics, but they are not always needed. If your UTI comes back after treatment, or you have two UTIs in six months, you may be prescribed a different antibiotic, or possibly a vaginal cream containing oestrogen, if you have gone through the menopause.
Sore throat
Sore throats are a very common ailment and most disappear within a week. Drinking plenty of water, resting and only eating cool or soft foods usually does the trick.
But you may need to be prescribed antibiotics if a clinician thinks you may have a bacterial infection.
Sore throats are usually caused by viruses like colds or flu, or by smoking. Only very occasionally are they caused by bacteria.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is swelling of the sinuses, usually caused by an infection. Symptoms include pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead, a blocked nose, a reduced sense of smell, a sinus headache and bad breath.
It is a common condition and usually clears up on its own within two to three weeks. But medicines can help if it is taking a long time to go away.
If your symptoms are severe or you keep getting sinusitis, you can be prescribed steroid nasal sprays or drops, antihistamines or antibiotics.
Impetigo
Impetigo is a skin infection that starts with red sores or blisters but the redness may be harder to see in brown and black skin. The sores or blisters quickly burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches.
Impetigo is very infectious. If you have this condition you could be prescribed antibiotic cream to speed up your recovery, or antibiotic tablets if it is very serious. Sometimes, you might be able to use a non-antibiotic cream.
Shingles
Shingles is an infection that initially tends to cause a headache and then a painful rash. A shingles vaccine is available on the NHS for people in their 70s.
The rash typically appears on your chest or abdomen, but it can appear anywhere on your body including on your face, eyes and genitals.
The rash appears as blotches on your skin, on one side of your body only. A rash on both the left and right of your body is unlikely to be shingles.
It can be treated at home using painkillers and a cool compress – but you may need to be prescribed medicines to help speed up your recovery and avoid longer-lasting problems.
Infected insect bites
Most insect bites will heal within a day or so but occasionally they can become infected, cause a severe allergic reaction or spread serious illnesses such as Lyme disease.
Bugs that bite or sting include wasps, hornets, bees, horseflies, ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, bedbugs, spiders and midges.
If pain, swelling and itchiness lasts more than a few days, you can be prescribed medicines to help that include painkillers, creams for itching and antihistamines.
