FREE Nittygritty Nit/Headlice Comb

[fuzzgun19]

I thought I'd share this piece of moneysaving that I discovered.
I wanted to buy a nit comb(the nits are doing the rounds again at school :mad: ), and I looked on ebay to see what was on and saw this comb which was selling for around £9.99.
I liked the look of it but didnt fancy paying £9.99 for a nit comb, so I did a search to see if they had a website and they did.

www.nittygritty.co.uk

To the left of this page it says "NitFree Comb AVAILABLE ON PRESCRIPTION
Download this letter for your GP and pharmacist"

I printed off the letter and took it to my doctor whom when he looked on his computer found this 'nittygritty' comb!

As Im getting free prescriptions at the moment, I have got this comb for free.
Even if you have to pay for prescriptions you're still paying less than the RRP of £9.99!
And lets face it, we parents can all do with some help against nits!
;)

[Addy]

Excellent find :j all NHS prescriptions are free for children under 16, whether the parents are eligible for free prescriptions or not.

I think the wetcombing method is the best way, it would be great if more docs were aware of this item being available on prescription instead of automatically dishing out the chemical solutions.

[fuzzgun19]

Excellent find :j all NHS prescriptions are free for children under 16, whether the parents are eligible for free prescriptions or not.

I think the wetcombing method is the best way, it would be great if more docs were aware of this item being available on prescription instead of automatically dishing out the chemical solutions.

I never thought about free childrens prescriptions! so everyone with children can get one for free then!

I also agree that wetcombing is best, I've tried solutions in the past and they didnt work.

[barjam]

i also got the 'bug busting kit' on prescription it has 4 combs in, a cape, some stickers and leaflets i asked in my docs about it they never heard of it til they typed it up on their computer..and there it was but i also took info in about it from a website www.chc.org (http://www.chc.org)

[sarah_ace1]

excellent find. i just take it into the receptionist then or do i have to see the doctor?

[sarah_ace1]

rang up drs and they have a prescription made out for me :) for one of these. i had to prompt them for it though and i've heard they are pretty good too. better than chemicals on children's heads

[Sam_26]

I feel this is a pretty poor effort on this site to promote stock free on prescription. As a pharmacist, I could tell you, you could get more or less anything free on prescription, but that's the attitude that put the National Health Service in its current state.

Please do not balg free combs from your GP for the sake of them being free!!!

[princessmoneysaver]

I paid £9.99 for one last year :-(

[fuzzgun19]

I feel this is a pretty poor effort on this site to promote stock free on prescription. As a pharmacist, I could tell you, you could get more or less anything free on prescription, but that's the attitude that put the National Health Service in its current state.

Please do not balg free combs from your GP for the sake of them being free!!!
What a sad sack you are!
If you dont believe in moneysaving, dont clog up this site!
The majority of patients to use this comb are children anyway.
Maybe you'd prefer your children to have nits then.
:mad:
Some people!

[sarah_ace1]

just to add, dr said it was unusual for my eldest (boy 15 yrs) to have nits. is this right? and my 2nd (3yrs) caught them from playgroup..oh joy..i'll be busy today then *sigh*

[crutches]

it is unusual for males past or during puberty but not unknown.I think he can probably blame head tohead contact with his little brother
you may wish to keepthis info away from him;)

[belleooo]

just to add, dr said it was unusual for my eldest (boy 15 yrs) to have nits. is this right? and my 2nd (3yrs) caught them from playgroup..oh joy..i'll be busy today then *sigh*

I've pulled the odd lice out of my 15 year old son hair so can't be that ususual. The problem is my five year old daughter whom seems to attract the little blighters. :O(

[Addy]

As a pharmacist, I could tell you, you could get more or less anything free on prescription, but that's the attitude that put the National Health Service in its current state.

Prescriptions aren't exactly "free", they're paid for by taxes. There are many factors as to why the NHS is in the state it's in today, patients getting required and prescribed-by-doctor items on prescription would surely rank as one of the least of them.

[barjam]

just to add, dr said it was unusual for my eldest (boy 15 yrs) to have nits. is this right? and my 2nd (3yrs) caught them from playgroup..oh joy..i'll be busy today then *sigh*



durrrrrr is your doctor for real............. the advice which is always given is if someone has headlice the whole family should be treated!!!! one of my sons is in high school and he came home with a letter about someone in his class with headlice so to check the childrens hair luckily enough he didnt, i have 4 sons and one girl my daughter is the only one to have had them , my sons never have but i dont think its unusual i think its luck!!:j

[stu_uk]

Prescriptions aren't exactly "free", they're paid for by taxes. There are many factors as to why the NHS is in the state it's in today, patients getting required and prescribed-by-doctor items on prescription would surely rank as one of the least of them.

Millions every year are wasted by the users of the NHS on prescriptions that could be purchased cheaper over the counter, ie paracetomol...

Users that are employed should buy the comb not use the NHS for this cheap method of buying a nit comb.

Free prescriptions are for people on low income / benefit.

This is not about money saving as Sam_26 did not point out you are ripping off the NHS... does that sound like sound money saving practice? if you think so don't you dare complain next time you have to wait in A&E or out patients or god forbid there is not a bed available for.

I have worked as a nurse in the NHS for over 15yrs and NHS !!!!!!!!!!s really !!!! me off as you can see.

I hope you enjoy your "free" nit comb knowing that that money could have been spent saving lives... rant over

[Pink-winged]

I don't wish to get into the whole headlice combs versus taxpayers debate...

Most of you probably know this already.......

The best way to prevent headlice is to buy a fine toothed comb (about 50p from your local chemist) and after washing hair, apply conditioner and comb hair before rinsing. Do this once a week and you and your family should stay lice free.

Pink

[bottlered]

I wish they were "50p from your local chemist"

A plastic comb may be 50p (granny would have called it a dust comb) but the teeth are not close enough together to get either the small headlice or the eggs

A good metal teeth comb is around £2 (x how many children will be doing their hair at the same time,in my case three)

[barbie babe]

i tryed to get nitty gritty comb from doctors as i have two girls that need it so i am not wasting money(as other combs do not get rid of eggs i have tried every one in shop).doctor said i had to buy it .so was very annoyed been to two chemists that dont stock the nitty gritty comb so my other half is going to try boots today ,but he will have to pay even thought we are on jsa.but thanks for this post we have know found out about this comb which looks as though it might work .
p.s any adult that is getting this free from there doctors because there child has nits is not wasting money .we love are kids and are looking to for help to get rid of these things . ;)

[belleooo]

p.s any adult that is getting this free from there doctors because there child has nits is not wasting money .we love are kids and are looking to for help to get rid of these things . ;)

I agree barbie babe. Headlice are a distressing problem for the child concerened. I have seen children scratch their heads until their scalp bleeds. Possibly risking infection. The teeth in the cheap plastic combs often snap whan poughing though thick/long hair. I've loads of toothless plastic combs kicking about. The metal combs from Boots are good but struggle to remove the eggs. If a good quality metal comb works then whats the harm in asking your GP for one on prescription? Last time I saw my GP for head lice he prescribed four bottles of expensive chemicals which must have cost in excess of £30. Our heads were treated but a month later the problem in one of the children re-occured. If the comb is as good as the ad states then one of these combs would be ideal and could be used over and over again. Saving the NHS money in the long run and possibly doing away with those dreadful chemicals.

[dazco]

Stu-uk
You do not pay for childrens prescriptions. Something I would gladly take full advantage of to get some return on the tax I have paid for the last 24 years. And when a doctor gives you a prescription and tells you to take it to the chemist, a non-medical person rarely has a clue what it is or can barely read it.

But I to believe it is a bit "rum" you telling people not to take free prescriptions that they are entitled to, when you work for the nhs. An orginisation that employs more administrators than nurses and has an appalling record for financial wastage.

In fact...Stu-uk, Please will you ask all your nhs collegues to stop wasting OUR money.

Thank you

[Mumstheword]

As far as I know, nits don't like coconut.
I get coconut conditioner from B&M bargains (can prob get it elsewhere too).

[barjam]

Stu-uk
You do not pay for childrens prescriptions. Something I would gladly take full advantage of to get some return on the tax I have paid for the last 24 years. And when a doctor gives you a prescription and tells you to take it to the chemist, a non-medical person rarely has a clue what it is or can barely read it.

But I to believe it is a bit "rum" you telling people not to take free prescriptions that they are entitled to, when you work for the nhs. An orginisation that employs more administrators than nurses and has an appalling record for financial wastage.

In fact...Stu-uk, Please will you ask all your nhs collegues to stop wasting OUR money.

Thank you





HEAR HEAR....................................... a child up to the age of 16 is allowed free prescriptions regardless of wether the parents are working or not!!!!!!!!! the combs are being asked for the children not the adults..............:rolleyes:

[stu_uk]

Stu-uk
You do not pay for childrens prescriptions. Something I would gladly take full advantage of to get some return on the tax I have paid for the last 24 years. And when a doctor gives you a prescription and tells you to take it to the chemist, a non-medical person rarely has a clue what it is or can barely read it.

But I to believe it is a bit "rum" you telling people not to take free prescriptions that they are entitled to, when you work for the nhs. An orginisation that employs more administrators than nurses and has an appalling record for financial wastage.

In fact...Stu-uk, Please will you ask all your nhs collegues to stop wasting OUR money.

Thank you

"You do not pay for childrens prescriptions" Every prescription costs money - fact - it cost the NHS to purchase the product from the manufactor.

"when a doctor gives you a prescription and tells you to take it to the chemist, a non-medical person rarely has a clue what it is or can barely read it." all GPs now have printed prescriptions unless you have a home visit. Would you normally take something without knowing what effect it has on your body?? if you do well more fool you....

"But I to believe it is a bit "rum" you telling people not to take free prescriptions that they are entitled to, when you work for the nhs. An orginisation that employs more administrators than nurses and has an appalling record for financial wastage." People that are working will be pulling this scam aswell.

Yes the NHS is a money pit, and this is one small example of lazy / scared GP's refusing to tell patients that it would be cheaper to buy asprin, paracetamol etc from the pharmacy / supermarket than get a prescription.

I can hear a collective whine of I am entitled to a free prescription for my little johnny etc.... well think if they need calpol it ranges from £1.38 to £2.50. I think it is crimminal if a working parent gets a presription for calpol when its so cheap. This country is slowly getting strangled by selfish people, its the 80's Thatcher attitude. :mad:

[stu_uk]

HEAR HEAR....................................... a child up to the age of 16 is allowed free prescriptions regardless of wether the parents are working or not!!!!!!!!! the combs are being asked for the children not the adults..............:rolleyes:

Sigh :rotfl:

Free prescriptions are for medical reasons.....

Yes nits are unpleasent

No one has ever died of head lice, Asda do a great metal comb for £1.69, my base argument is if you work and can afford it you should pay for one.

Its a bloody nit comb not a medicine FFS.... :mad:

Get off your butts and stop muchin of the NHS, use presricptions for appropreate medication.

This is not money saving its using resources that are limited and getting worse. See you on the chairs in A&E....

[Addy]

I'm sorry stu_uk, I think your statements are way over the top. If people using the NHS frustrate (quote "!!!! me off" unquote) you so much, maybe you're in the wrong job!!

It's not a "scam".

The NHS is funded in it's entirity by working people....the very people who seem to frustrate you most...and who are as entitled to claim medicines on prescription as anybody.

[fuzzgun19]

p.s any adult that is getting this free from there doctors because there child has nits is not wasting money .we love are kids and are looking to for help to get rid of these things . ;)

HERE HERE!!

I think some people dont seem to grasp that these combs are mainly used by children(ie free prescriptions), and we are NOT wasting NHS money!
:mad:

[rushnowt]

**** Please can we keep this thread on track and not turn it into a discussion, many thanks Rush x ****

[barbie babe]

just like to say nits can cause children lots of problems so these combs seem a great way of save nhs money .this comb given to every child that needs it would save a lot of money. i was offered from doctor a lotion for free for my two daughter thats two bottles that cost ten pounds each in shops . i would need two every month the comb would last them for life .please think before you make silly stataments about wasting nhs money.

[Sam_26]

!!!!!!!!!!s getting free prescriptions cost the NHS loads of money

eg. Free nit Comb

1.Patients ask receptionist - Time and effort to print cost = £1

2.GP has to check and sign the prescription, otherwise seeing patients cost = £5

3. Pharmacist NHS dispensing fee = £1
4. Prescription Pricing Authority to reimburse pharmacist time and effort = £1

Total admin time adds up to £8 for a bleeding comb, that I will sell any MSE reader for £8 mail order, free postage, if they want to go thru this effort. Otherwise go to your local chemist and buy it for £9.99.

When your granny cannot have her hip replacement, its wasting resources and !!!!!!!!!!s that cost the NHS money.

I have worked in GP practices, where patients ask for 32 Paracetamol and when I explain the whole cost cycle, they go to the chemist and buy it!!!!!

[rushnowt]

**** since this thread is now turning into a debate/discussion about free nhs presciptions I am going to lock it, if you wish to discuss these issues or vent your thoughts there are appropriate boards for this, thanks for your understanding and consideration ****