HEDINGHAM MEDICAL CENTRE IS NO LONGER PRESCRIBING LORATADINE, CETIRIZINE TABLETS & SOD CROMOGLICATE EYE DROPS FOR HAYFEVER FROM MARCH 1ST 2020 – available over the counter
NHS England has advised the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group that they must encourage all practices to reduce the money spent on prescribing OTC (Over The Counter) Medicines.
Many OTC medicines are surprisingly cheap – for example a month of cetirizine/loratadine (hay fever tablets) can cost as little as £1.78. We feel that it is right to support this cost saving initiative in order that money saved can be used to fund more vital patient care.
From March 1st 2020 we will no longer be prescribing the following medicines to patients aged 18 years and over: cetirizine, loratadine tablets and sodium cromoglicate eye drops for hayfever. You will need to buy these in a chemist; they are also available in most large supermarkets.
Part of this initiative is cost saving and part of it is about empowering patients to manage their own self-limiting conditions / minor ailments, with the help of a community pharmacist if required. This can also help free up valuable GP appointments at the surgery.
HEDINGHAM MEDICAL CENTRE
