Minor Ailments schemes

[Zoggite]

Could somebody please clarify what these are?From what I can gather so far, they're a means by which community Phcists can supply certain P-meds to patients and get the NHS to pay for them, not the patient; it doesn't actually allow Phcists to supply drugs that would otherwise be POMs, does it? So I'd still be left saying "I know what you need, but I'm not allowed to sell it to you"...
What frustrates me is that in Belgium I was deemed qualified enough to dispense/supply/sell fucidin cream and antibiotic eye ointments, but not so here in the UK; yet GTN sprays and EHC are fine?

[Steve G]

What you can supply on minor ailment schemes depends on what the PCT allow you to supply. I know that some include PGDs for e.g chloramphenicol in under 2s, but others may not.

[kemzero]

Its a scheme whereby the GP workload for self-limiting conditions are transferred to the local community pharmacists
The number of ailments managed under the scheme varies form PCT to PCT
my PCT have commissioned 22 ailments.
P'cists can only prescribe from a limited evidence- based cost effective formulary. Patients who are exempt from prescription charges benefit the most from the scheme.
For POMs to be dispensed PGDs would have to be used,PGDs take time etc

[Zoggite]

So I suppose these schemes only work if the patient is registered with a GP practice in the same PCT (or LHB for Wales) as the Pharmacy, and the surgery must have entered into an agreement with the Phcy beforehand, so it would be totally useless in my case where the vast majority of my customers in the summer are holidaymakers from England and therefore aren't registered locally...
Same problem with PGDs...[sigh of despair]

[Linnear]

So I suppose these schemes only work if the patient is registered with a GP practice in the same PCT (or LHB for Wales) as the Pharmacy, and the surgery must have entered into an agreement with the Phcy beforehand, so it would be totally useless in my case where the vast majority of my customers in the summer are holidaymakers from England and therefore aren't registered locally...
Same problem with PGDs...[sigh of despair]

Cornwall was one of the trial areas and all the Drs in the county signed on but we're also allowed to do temporary residents.

We've got:

Chloramphenicol or Fucithalmic for conjunctivitis
Fucidin for impetigo
Trimethoprim for simple UTIs


Bugger! Forgotten the other one!

Ah! It's for nappy rash but I can't think what the cream is.

[Zoggite]

It'll be timodine or daktacort probably...
Sounds interesting, although if holidaymakers still have to register as TR's with a local surgery, it's still not that much of an improvement...
Do you have any more info on your Minor Ailments scheme? I wonder if I could suggest your PGDs to our Local Health Board?

[Linnear]

Holidaymakers don't have to register with a GP as a temporary resident we log them as TRs. We're that good!


It is a good scheme when you're not stacked out with Rxs.

The worst one is the UTI one you have to dip a sample with multistix!

Next time I see a file in work I'll get some more details for ya.

[Linnear]

The nappy rash one was Timodine.

[howe928]

do you ask them to provide any proof e.g. driving licence, passport when registering patients?

any useful advices?

[roper]

What is the procedure for a locum to gain accreditation to operate the schemes in your area? I find some have no accreditation requirement, others a simple declaration and yet others you must attend a training evening or else have to turn the patients away on the days you work.