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Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 263 No 7057 p226
August 14, 1999 News

OTC referral scheme in Leicester

Pharmacies in Leicester are taking part in a pilot scheme for the referral of patients from general medical practitioners for purchase of over-the-counter medicines, according to Boots the Chemists.
Eighty-two GP surgeries (101 GPs) are asking patients whether they will accept an OTC treatment as an alternative to a prescription. Those who are happy to do so are being given A5 sized referral forms to take to their local pharmacies, which include a selected range of OTC products for specific conditions, along with spaces for the GP to indicate alternative recommendations to those printed on the forms.
OTC referral form Patients are being asked to accept OTC recommendations instead of prescriptions


The referral forms include sections for recommendations for hayfever, pain relief, athlete’s foot, verruca, constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion and thrush. There is also a section in which GPs can indicate any other ailment and their recommendations.


One of the participating GPs (Dr Michael Mead) told The Journal on August 3: “Approximately 40 per cent of GP consultations relate to self-limiting minor ailments, many of which can be treated by self-medication.”