In 2017 NHS Brighton and Hove CCG launched a public awareness campaign called ‘#HelpMyNHS’.
Designed to explain the costs associated with GP prescriptions for medicines that are also available to buy over the counter without a prescription at pharmacies, the campaign asked local people to help their NHS use available funding more efficiently. The original press relase can be found here.
The campaign has now been rolled out Sussex wide and covers a variety of ways the public can help their GP and A&E department.
In 2018 NHS England published guidance for CCGs on “Conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care”.
As a result, Brighton and Hove CCG and High Weald Lewes Havens CCG does not support the prescribing of medication that is available to buy from local pharmacies or supermarkets for children or adults, in line with the guidance. A press release can be found here.
To support prescribers promote and implement a self-care ethos in their practice, the below resources have been developed.
You will also find patient leaflets for UTI and RTI on the TARGET antibiotic toolkit website: http://www.rcgp.org.uk/TARGETantibiotics