Doctors banned from prescribing expensive drugs to patients in bid to save NHS cash
GPs will tell people to buy their own gluten-free foods and lotions that remove facial hair or cover up birth marks
DOCTORS have been banned from prescribing expensive medicines and items that can be bought in supermarkets in a bid to save NHS cash.
Patients will be denied branded drugs when cheaper generic versions are available.
And GPs will tell people to buy their own gluten-free foods, sun cream, and lotions that remove facial hair or cover up birth marks.
Health bosses in Yorkshire said they had been forced to act because of the “financial challenge” facing the service.
The ban has been imposed by Greater Huddersfield and North Kirklees clinical commissioning groups.
They estimate it could save £1million a year, the Health Service Journal reported.
David Kelly, GP and chairman of the NHS North Kirklees governing body, said: “NHS services are improving and as a result, more people are living longer.
“But, we are also seeing increasing demand for NHS care, alongside rising costs.
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“This means we have had to look at using our budget in a different way.
“Decisions like this are difficult and we know that some people will find them hard to accept, but the money saved can be spent on things that have much more of an impact on people’s health.”
Steve Ollerton, GP and chairman of NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG, said: “The NHS budget is just the same as everyone’s household budget - we can only spend the money we have.
“When the bills get higher we have to tighten our belt and cannot always keep buying more services.”