NHS England – changes to routine prescriptions in primary care

From NHS England
NHS England has published detailed plans – drawn up with family doctors and pharmacists – to cut out prescriptions for ineffective, over-priced and low value treatments. The consultation covers 3,200 prescription items, many of which are available and sold ‘over the counter’ and may be at significantly lower price than the cost to the NHS. Local Healthwatch is encouraging people to share their views as part of their consultation.
Set out in the consultation document are proposed national guidance for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) on medicines which can be considered to be of low priority for NHS funding. The commissioning guidance, upon which they are consulting, will be addressed to CCGs to support them to fulfil their duties around appropriate use of prescribing resources.
NHS England has partnered with NHS Clinical Commissioners to support CCGs in ensuring that they can use their prescribing resources effectively and deliver best patient outcomes from the medicines that their local population uses.

• Find out more and share your views at: https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/items-routinely-prescribed/ 
• The consultation deadline is: 21st October 2017.

• Read Healthwatch England’s comments on the consultation on their website here.