The Isle of Man Pharmacy Contractors’ Association, in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, has recently launched an expanded Minor Ailments Scheme across the Island.
The scheme, which was originally launched in 2008, allows patients to obtain treatment on prescription for a wide range of non-serious conditions, direct from their local pharmacy, without an appointment.
Local Pharmacist and spokesperson for the Pharmacy Contractors Association, Ian Hemensley said:
'Pharmacy teams are increasingly supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing.
'The Minor Ailments Scheme is very popular, reducing the need for GP appointments for some of the more common minor ailments, such as bacterial conjunctivitis, impetigo, thrush and cystitis.
'The decision was taken to expand the range of treatments available.'
There are now a total of sixteen different treatments available on the scheme, covering fourteen different conditions, in what is thought to be one of the most comprehensive schemes available, when compared to schemes established in the UK.
Dr Iain Kewley, Interim Executive Director for Integrated Care said:
'The Department of Health and Social Care is grateful for the involvement of our Island’s pharmacies in providing this comprehensive Minor Ailments Scheme. The scheme will help to reduce the pressure on GP Practices and Manx Emergency Doctors Service. This will enable GPs to focus on caring for and treating patients with more complex conditions.'
The scheme now includes treatments for gout, shingles, exercise-related injury, constipation, hay fever, persistent dry coughs, toothache as well as infected nappy rash and oral thrush in infants.
Patients will need to have a brief private consultation with the Pharmacist before being provided with the appropriate treatment.
It is possible that a more suitable product, not within the scheme, could be recommended that would have to be purchased from the Pharmacist. In some circumstances patients may need to be referred to their GP.
Products in the scheme will incur a prescription charge, which is currently £3.85, if applicable. However if a patient is usually exempt from prescription charges they will not pay for the treatment and will make the declaration on the reverse of the prescription form in the usual way.
For more information please contact your local Pharmacy or pick up an information leaflet from your pharmacy or GP Practice.