Medicines
Medicines are the most common health intervention in the world today and the NHS spends a growing share of its budget on buying them.
It is vital to the sustainability of the health service that medicines are managed responsibly and equitably.
We aim to optimise the use of medicines by promoting cost-effective and evidence-based clinical practice and effective risk management to make sure patients get the right medicine at the right time.
We make sure patients get the most from their medicines – take them correctly, avoid taking unnecessary medicines, improve safety, and reduce wastage.
Over-the-counter medicines
In 2022/23, NHS Kent and Medway spent more than £18million on medications for self-limiting, short-term illnesses and minor conditions that could potentially be bought over the counter (OTC).
This practice together with NHS Kent and Medway is committed to delivering the best value to patients by ensuring we use our resources well. Therefore, to help support implementation and ensure cost effective, evidence-based use of medicines, NHS Kent and Medway and this practice does not support the prescribing of items available OTC for self-care.
This is in line with the the guidance from NHS England for conditions which over-the-counter items should not be routinely prescribed by this practice.