CCG proposals for GPs to restrict access to OTC prescriptions

This page has been updated to remove advice which stated schemes proposed by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) which involve GPs assessing patients’ ability to pay for over-the-counter medicines and asking them if they are willing to do so run contrary to GMC guidance. We have since been informed that this is not the case and apologise for any confusion it has caused.

It remains the view of Londonwide LMCs that decisions regarding the prescribing of certain over-the-counter medicines should be taken at a national level by the Government, using “The Blacklist” described under the NHS Regulations, and published in part XVIIIA of the NHS Drug Tariff, rather than passing this responsibility and risk to CCGs and on to GPs.

Practices should be aware that CCGs cannot directly prohibit GPs and other prescribers from prescribing drugs which are available via FP10, we do encourage prescribers to be mindful of the best use of NHS resources, but to continue to prescribe drugs, medicines or appliances which are needed for the treatment of patients in line with their contract.

Last updated : 31 Jul 2017

 

New Medical Directors join Londonwide LMCs (22 Jun 2016)

Four new medical directors have joined Londonwide LMCs, they will be taking up their posts between June and August: Dr Lisa Harrod-Rothwell MA(Cantab) BM BCh (Oxon) MRCGP DRCOG DFFP Cert...
Read more »

General Practitioners Committee elections (21 Jun 2016)

Dr Terry John, Chair of Waltham Forest LMC, has been elected onto the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee (GPC) to represent Barking and Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, Newham, City and...
Read more »

Accessible Information Standard (21 Jun 2016)

The Accessible Information Standard aims to ensure that people who have a disability or sensory impairment receive information that can be accessible and understood. Any organisation that provides NHS...
Read more »

Primary Care Support England services relocation (21 Jun 2016)

Primary Care Support England (PCSE) is changing some of the services it provides.  London PCSE offices (Stephenson House and Kirk House)  The following services ceased being delivered by PCSE’s...
Read more »

Sustainability and Transformation Plans - June 2016 Update (21 Jun 2016)

The NHS Confederation conference ran from 15 – 17 of June and included a number of talks which touched on STPs, although no formal policy announcements were made. NHS England...
Read more »

The NHS turns 68 on 5 July - help us celebrate its achievements  (20 Jun 2016)

We are keen to highlight the good work that general practice has done since the NHS was formed. Next month we will be celebrating the role of general practice since...
Read more »

Speaker's Corner: Breaking the cycle of despair - tackling diabetes and obesity (13 Jun 2016)

Dr Neel Basudev is a London GP and diabetes lead for Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group. For National Diabetes Week he explains why understanding the person behind the condition is...
Read more »

M word - Issue 29 - Dr Michelle Drage's latest update for GPs and their practice teams (09 Jun 2016)

Dear Colleague, I know you’re constantly being bombarded with surveys that take ‘just a few minutes’, most of which take you away from your day’s core work, but...
Read more »

Londonwide LMCs Annual Conference leads debate on general practice workforce (25 May 2016)

On 20 April Londonwide LMCs took over the Emirates Stadium in Holloway for our annual conference “We Can Work it Out, Powering up London’s Primary Care Workforce”, where we launched...
Read more »
Next Page »
« Previous Page