This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Associate Director, Children and Families, Johnny Kyriacou, for the attention of All Schools.
Reminder that over the counter medications do not need to be prescribed in order to be given in schools
In line with national guidance, GP surgeries across our area no longer routinely prescribe a range of over the counter (OTC) medication for self-limiting conditions or minor conditions. This came into effect on Saturday 1st September 2018.
The local policy can be found here:
The national policy on which the local guidance is based can be found here:
By reducing the time that general practices spend on treating conditions that are self-limiting or which lend themselves to self-care, we can invest more time and funding in higher priority areas that have a greater impact for local people, support improvements in services or deliver transformation that will ensure the long-term sustainability of the NHS. Any savings from implementing this change is reinvested in improving patient care.
As you will be aware, prescription only medicines must not be administered in schools unless they have been prescribed for a child by an ‘Appropriate Practitioner’, which includes a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist. However, non-prescription (over the counter) medicines do not need an appropriate practitioner’s prescription, signature or authorisation in order for you or your staff to give them. You do however need signed consent from a parent/carer which again I’m sure you are aware of. An organisation called PrescQIPP, which supports the NHS in improving use of medicines, has produced some template consent forms which may be useful to you which I attach for your information.
If you have any questions relating to the change in our prescribing policy, or you would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact the CCG Medicines Optimisation Team via frimleyccg.prescribing@nhs.net
Tim Langran
Interim Associate Director of Medicines Optimisation
NHS Frimley
Email: tim.langran@nhs.net
Mobile: 07775 010727
Find out more about our Integrated Care System www.frimleyhealthandcare.org.uk www.twitter.com/FrimleyHC www.facebook.com/FrimleyHealthandCare