Understanding the HealthWatch Cost of Living & Health Report

A recent report from the patient advocacy organisation HealthWatch, recommended that GP Surgeries should prescribe medicines available over the counter at pharmacies and supermarkets to patients based on socioeconomic need.For years the NHS has been telling practices to stop doing this due to the cost of providing a whole appointment compared to the low cost (often pennies) of widely available medicines such as paracetamol and antihistamines.We pick apart this report and it’s other recommenda...