Chicken pox is currently “doing the rounds” locally. It’s a useful time to share some self care tips about how to manage the symptoms at home as most children with chicken pox don’t need to see a GP. ⏺️ encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids - try ice lollies if your child is not drinking ⏺️ give paracetamol to help with any pain and discomfort - avoid ibuprofen ⏺️ use cooling creams or gels from a pharmacy ⏺️ speak to a pharmacist about using antihistamine medicine to help itching ⏺️ bathe in cool water and pat the skin dry (do not rub) If your child has chickenpox, they will need to stay off school/nursery until all the spots have formed a scab. This is usually 5 days after the spots first appeared. For further advice see the NHS website or contact NHS111. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/
Over the counter (OTC) medicines
Over the Counter (OTC) Medications
OTC medications are those that can be bought from pharmacies. GP practices are encouraged not to prescribe medications that are available from pharmacies and supermarkets without a prescription.
Remember you don’t need an appointment to see a pharmacist, which makes it quicker and easier to get advice and medicines rather than contacting the surgery. Buying medicines over the counter will also help to free up GP appointments for those who really need them.
Examples include treatments for: hayfever, dry skin, scabies, athletes foot, conjunctivitis and warts etc.
Currently the NHS spends around £136 million a year on prescriptions for medicines which could otherwise have been bought over-the-counter. Buying medicines yourself will help save the NHS money as some products to treat minor, short-term illnesses can be purchased over-the-counter at a lower cost than that which would be incurred by the NHS.
Importantly, the prescription changes will not affect the prescribing of over-the-counter treatments for long-term conditions or more complex conditions, or where minor illnesses are a symptom or side effect of a more serious condition.
Your local pharmacy can also help with treatments for seven common minor illness such as urine infections, sinusitis and shingles. See our Urgent Care page for more details on Pharmacy First.
