minor ailment scheme - please explain

[Shaani]

what is the minor ailment scheme and also what is the difference between a supplementary and independant subscriber??

[Linnear]

The Minor Ailment scheme is a Patient Group Directive (PGD) whereby POM medicines can be given without a prescription

The Dr has basically authorised a script as long as the answers on the forms are answered correctly.

At the moment, in Cornwall anyway, we can give:

Morning After Pill
Fucithalmic or Chloramphenicol for conjunctivitis
Fucidin for Impetigo
Trimethoprim for minor Urinary Tract infections in women
Timodine for infected nappy rash


I think that Supplementary and Independent prescribers are interchangeable terms.

I am awaiting severe flaming for that last statement!

[Pharmanaut]

Prescribing

The Minor Ailment scheme is a Patient Group Directive (PGD) whereby POM medicines can be given without a prescription

The Dr has basically authorised a script as long as the answers on the forms are answered correctly.

At the moment, in Cornwall anyway, we can give:

Morning After Pill
Fucithalmic or Chloramphenicol for conjunctivitis
Fucidin for Impetigo
Trimethoprim for minor Urinary Tract infections in women
Timodine for infected nappy rash


I think that Supplementary and Independent prescribers are interchangeable terms.

I am awaiting severe flaming for that last statement!

The CP form for emergency supplies where you can give a full course of something on the NHS is a PGD for the whole of Scotland.

I'm not sure if the terms are the same Chris, but brain is in "weekend mode" and I would hate to disturb it to think what the difference is.

[Pharmanaut]

Scotland

what is the minor ailment scheme and also what is the difference between a supplementary and independant subscriber??

Check out what's happening in Scotland.
They seem to be way out in front with the services they commision from pharmacies.

[Linnear]

That's because the Scots always want more for their money!

[Zoggite]

The Minor Ailment scheme is a Patient Group Directive (PGD) whereby POM medicines can be given without a prescription

Not necessarily, unfortunately!
More often than not, Minor ailment Schemes are merely a way for patients to get OTC medicines for free that they would otherwise have had to buy over the counter: for example headlice treatments:in certain areas around Manchester, if a mother goes into a Pharmacy asking for a headlice treatment for her child, the Phcist can give it to her for free providing the patient fulfills all the set criteria and that all the forms are completed adequately; it's almost like the Phcist issuing a prescription for it, he then claims reimbursement by the PCT for the cost of the product supplied plus a small feee for his time. The patient is the real winner as he/she has saved him/herself the £4 or £5 that the stuff would have cost to buy.
In short, I'm not a fan of these schemes, they cost us and the NHS quite a bit of time and money, just to save the patients a few ££!
In my experience, Cornwall is more the exception than the rule in including so many POMs in its scheme.

[Revolutionnaire]

Re: minor ailment scheme - please explain

Not necessarily, unfortunately!
More often than not, Minor ailment Schemes are merely a way for patients to get OTC medicines for free that they would otherwise have had to buy over the counter: for example headlice treatments:in certain areas around Manchester, if a mother goes into a Pharmacy asking for a headlice treatment for her child, the Phcist can give it to her for free providing the patient fulfills all the set criteria and that all the forms are completed adequately; it's almost like the Phcist issuing a prescription for it, he then claims reimbursement by the PCT for the cost of the product supplied plus a small feee for his time. The patient is the real winner as he/she has saved him/herself the £4 or £5 that the stuff would have cost to buy.
In short, I'm not a fan of these schemes, they cost us and the NHS quite a bit of time and money, just to save the patients a few ££!
In my experience, Cornwall is more the exception than the rule in including so many POMs in its scheme.

In most pharmacies in rough areas people do come in and ask what they can get for free, then go through a list...something for coughs, thrush, athelete's foot and ringworms please. For all members of my 7 member household please. And I would like the freebies gift wrapped too please.

[LeftArm]

Re: minor ailment scheme - please explain

But the same mother would otherwise get an appointment to see a doctor (or Nurse) to get a prescription before coming into the pharmacy at an additional cost to the NHS.
I'm all in favour of them but I think there needs to be more control as I have heard of customers demanding "free stuff".

[Ap0thecary]

Re: minor ailment scheme - please explain

Are minor ailment schemes still in practice?

[mrfreelancepharmacist]

Re: minor ailment scheme - please explain

Are minor ailment schemes still in practice?

in scotland and some rich pcts in england!

[Ap0thecary]

Re: minor ailment scheme - please explain

Are they not benefical anymore? Or are they just too expensive hence only rich PCT's commission them?

[mrfreelancepharmacist]

Re: minor ailment scheme - please explain

in scotland and some rich pcts in england!

I think the word benefit has been replaced by the word budget. Too expensive, no money etc etc etc. However there is plenty for the Scots. Free prescriptions, free education, free university all subsidised by the UK taxpayers.

[andrew paxton]

Re: minor ailment scheme - please explain

getting back to the first post.
Independent prescribers can prescribe any medicine (except Diamorphine, Dipipanone and Cocaine for addiction) on their own responsibility and within their own competence. Supplementary prescribers can only prescribe within a clinical management plan that is written by a doctor, for example: Keep Patient A's BP within a set range, Use your clinical knowledge to prescribe CCBs ACEs AIIAs and thiazides to achieve this. (I'm neither, so I'm paraphrasing)