Do you know about the “ Minor Ailments” scheme?

Looks like this only applies in England, i.e. not available in Northern Ireland.

It is available in Scotland.

Yes. I signed up with the local pharmacy and get antihistamines all summer and recently expensive acid stuff to burn off a wee wart. DH gets eye drops under the same scheme. Great idea which takes pressure off GP surgeries and saves lengthy waits for appointments if you can just pop into your local pharmacy.

Yes, I learnt about it recently. I went into my usual chemist for some eyedrops for an allergic reaction and they said they would give them to me under the Minor Ailment scheme. I was perfectly willing to pay for them but they pretty much insisted I had them for free. No wonder the NHS has no money!

I nipped in to my local pharmacy a few weeks ago because my GP had started me on new drugs and I had a reaction- I did not know if it was temporary etc. It was helpful because the pharmacist knew which other drugs I was on but it was not a reaction with another drug. Two days off my new drug and I was 100% fine and no problems since. That saved me a long wait to see a GP.

You can also get free medication if you have an HC2 (free prescriptions due to poverty).

Suedonim, I don't really think that a scheme which offers free medication to those who are very young/old or poor is the reason the NHS has no money. If you really feel you want to pay then send money to your local hospital. They'll find a use for it.

I came across this scheme a couple of months ago. I believe the key point is that a pharmacist can treat minor ailments to take pressure off GPs and save patients waiting for an appointment. For those entitled to free prescriptions, it is free. For those who have to pay for prescriptions, they pay for the items needed.

I didn’t know about this, so thank you daddima

Never heard of it, until now.

In Scotland, where we have free prescriptions for all, the items issued for Minor Ailments are free too.

you can get the advice and PAY if you want to,nobody forces you to take them for free .For parents of children who wouldn't pay anyway its often easier speaking to a pharmacist and getting help without waiting days ..or longer in some cases .