minor ailments free at the chemist

presenthyme

i posted a minor ailment blurb on the health bit but did not get much interest.
as it is scottish specific i thought i would mention it here.
basically sign up at your local chemist for the minor ailment service and all your minor ailment advice and medicine is FREE.
so all you folk out there complaining about spending £10+ on your kids headlice get down to the local chemist where they are giving it FREE on the nhs.
add to this all those other wee bits and pieces you pay for and you can save a packet.

buybee

is this available for everyone or those only on dss

kabie

So it's basically taking the GP out of the loop?
Didn't know about this is it all chemists or just selected ones? Do you have to get a form from the GP?
All prescriptions for under 16's are free so it wouldn't just be DSS.
It's a pain to have to see the doc just to get a script though when it's something that they really needn't be bothered with so this is a great idea.

lostnfound

All chemists do this scheme and other chemists nationwide,no forms to fill out all information held on pharmacy pc system,can only register at one pharmacy,u can de-register if u change surgeries or move home.people eligable :
Medically exempt
Over 60`s
children under 16 or in full time education and dont pay for prescriptions.
low incomes
But not people on pre-payment certificates or people who pay for there prescriptions.

lostnfound

Ailments which are prescribed for are :

Acute impetigo

Athletes foot

Back pain or soft tissue injury

Conjunctivitis

Constipation

Contact dermatitis

Diarrhoea

Emergency hormone contraception

Hay fever

Head lice

Headache, earache and temperature

Indigestion, heart burn and tummy upset

Mouth ulcers

Nasal congestion

Oral and perioral fungal infections

Psoriasis

Sore throat

Teething with or without pain and fever

Threadworm

Urinary tract infection.

loadsacash

I have been buying cough medicine for my 6 year old son and the local chemist told us about this.

It is a brilliant idea and it will save me some money.

Fraserca

Won't save me any money. This will cost me money.

I'm one of the poor bleeders who pay for this give away by paying ridiculous taxes while the ' Scottish Council ' squander it on people who would be better of paying their own way in society.

Who would believe that any serious Govt would write a blank cheque like this so that anyone can demand medicines whether they need them or not.

Where is the rational of the person who makes money out of selling these drugs being able to prescribe them upon request and the taxpayer, not the recipient, having to pay for it.

Its a blank cheque.

scotgirl2

well its to save on nhs doctor appointments, so in the way the government see it, its saving money, as for every doctor appointment that is made even if its small or major complaint, it costs the nhs just for the consultation "£30" before any prescriptions are given out, thats why its such a big deal when people dont turn up for appointments, cos that time is wasted, so 30 quid doon drain for every no show.....I had looked into this a while ago, its maybe a lot more expensive now for each appointment fee, so this new service would actually cut down on smallish ailments to the doc.

Fraserca

Fair point Scotgirl2. I see where you are coming from

Trouble is that mums are coming to the chemist and demanding ' over the counter ' medicines for their kids ( and themselves ! ) for free. The taxpayer is paying for this and mostly it is for ailments that previously people would have paid for .

I have reports from a pharmacist friend that he gets a lot of aggression from the 'patients ' who think that they only have to ask and they will get, rather than having to satisfy the pharmacist that there is a need for the medicine.

So you see why some will cave in and allow the ' Scottish Executive ' to pay - they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.