Over the counter medications
NHS England have directed us to not give a prescription for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for a range of minor health conditions. For example anti-histamines for hay-fever.
This is because of government policy to reduce the amount of money the NHS spends on prescriptions for treating minor conditions that usually get better on their own.
By reducing the amount it spends on OTC medicines, the NHS can give priority to treatments for people with more serious conditions, such as cancer, diabetes and mental health problems.