mole removal costs

NHS Spending on OTC Treatments Under Fire

The Daily Telegraph has exposed NHS spending on OTC or Over The Counter treatments, totalling £9.3bn in 2015 and up 5% on the previous year. 

These treatments included prescriptions for standard painkillers (paracetamol or aspirin), antacids, multivitamins and even mouthwash.

The Telegraph adds:

“…hundreds of thousands of pounds went on head lice treatments, Nytol herbal sleep tablets and the Bonjela and Bazooka ulcer and verruca creams”

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said:

“The NHS is under enormous financial pressure right now.

“Every penny in the NHS must be spent appropriately and wisely. Practitioners must always make sure that prescription items are necessary.

“However, patients also have responsibilities to not waste the NHS’s scarce resources and should endeavour to pay for everyday items such as cold remedies out of their own pocket.”

While the cost of prescription at £8.40 means that it may be cheaper for patients to buy simple remedies themselves; over 90% of prescriptions are actually offered free due to the patient’s age or circumstances.

Katherine Murphy, the chief executive of the Patients Association, said:

“Practitioners must always make sure that prescription items are necessary. However, patients also have responsibilities to not waste the NHS’s scarce resources and should endeavour to pay for everyday items such as cold remedies out of their own pocket.”

Private Treatment

When it comes to issues such as verruca treatment, some patients prefer to use the private sector where stronger treatments are available than can be purchased over the counter.

Stubborn verruca can be treated using cryotherapy – a freezing technique using intense cold. For very difficult verruca, laser treatment or even minor surgery are available to deal with the problem.

Skin Surgery Laser Clinic have a selection of locations conveniently based in London and Bristol. All procedures are carried out by highly trained and experienced doctors and surgeons.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.