How this fits in

As part of a medication optimisation strategy, in March 2018 NHS England published guidance for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) that included a list of over-the-counter medications that should not be routinely prescribed by GPs in the NHS. Specifically examining simple analgesia, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, the authors found only a small reduction in national prescribing rates following guidance publication. Information collected through freedom of information requests to CCGs found a diverse approach to guidance implementation, with some areas having no plans for implementation. The findings suggest that guidance publication alone had little benefit in reducing prescribing rates. Careful implementation would be required to achieve the full potential cost-saving benefit of the guidance to the NHS, though care needs to be taken to ensure that implementation does not result in health inequality, with the patients having to purchase medication items themselves.