Post by Phil Leighton / Redsky

Phil Leighton • Feed

It would be nice if people didn’t abuse the system though. My wife at the dispensary the other day behind an old woman waiting for her prescription of paracetamol which she of course got free of charge.

jul 17, 2025, 11:20 am • 0 0

Replies

Generally paracetamol isn't prescribed anymore but if it is these are the reasons why it would be.

Details from NHS England saying why you'd be prescribed over the counter drugs You may still be prescribed a medicine for a condition on the list if: • You need treatment for a long-term condition, e.g. regular pain relief for chronic arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease. • You need treatment for more complex forms of minor illnesses, e.g. migraines that are very bad and where over the counter medicines do not work. • You need an over the counter medicine to treat a side effect of a prescription medicine or symptom of another illness, e.g. constipation when taking certain painkillers. • The medicine has a licence which doesn’t allow the product to be sold over the counter to certain groups of patients. This could include babies, children or women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. • The person prescribing thinks that a patient cannot treat themselves, for example because of mental health problems or severe social vulnerability. The reasons vary for each condition. Your GP, nurse or pharmacist will speak to you if this affects you. Exceptions to the new prescription rules

jul 17, 2025, 11:33 am • 1 0 • view

My point was that you can buy it at the supermarket for pennies, but some people will abuse the system because it’s free - even to save a few pennies

jul 17, 2025, 1:21 pm • 0 0 • view

My point was doctors don't generally prescribe those drugs you can buy for pennies anymore. Those who do get them prescribed generally have a reason for that. There's no need to blame those using the NHS for the state it's in.

jul 17, 2025, 2:28 pm • 0 0 • view