ACTION is being taken to ensure the most strategic and effective use of medicines
across Dumfries and Galloway, helping to protect local NHS services at a time of
major financial pressure.
As part of these moves, patients will be encouraged to purchase over-the-counter
paracetamol, rather than rely on NHS prescriptions.
Director of Pharmacy Nikki Holmes said: “Along with health boards across
Scotland, we are facing significant financial challenges and must ensure that every
pound is used in the most effective way to support treatment and care.
“Each health board receives an annual pot of funding from the Scottish
Government from which to deliver all local services and supply all necessary
medications. This is a fixed budget, and there is no additional funding beyond that
amount.
“Paracetamol is an important and widely used medicine, but it can often be
bought for less than 50 pence from supermarkets, pharmacies, and other retailers.
By comparison, supplying paracetamol through an NHS prescription costs
considerably more.
“As part of a broader approach to medicines management across the Board, we
are asking that paracetamol only be prescribed for short courses, or on an ongoing
basis where there is a clear, identified clinical need.”
Patients attending day case procedures will be encouraged to purchase their own
supplies of pain relief beforehand. Paracetamol will not routinely be prescribed
when patients are discharged from hospital unless there is a clear clinical need.
Similarly, GPs are being asked to limit the prescribing of paracetamol to cases
where there is an ongoing requirement, and to direct patients to purchase it
themselves where appropriate.
This action is part of wider efforts by NHS Dumfries and Galloway to address an
unprecedented savings target of £21.3 million in the 2025/26 financial year. A
comprehensive savings strategy has been agreed, with a focus on ensuring that
every penny is spent in ways that deliver maximum benefit for local communities.
A key part of this strategy includes reducing medicines waste, which is estimated
to cost the Board over £1 million every year. As part of this, the public is being
asked to play a role by only ordering the medicines they genuinely need.
Medical Director Dr Kenneth Donaldson said: “We are committed to providing
clear information and advice around this move, which forms part of broader
efforts to safeguard the future of local NHS services.
“Every pound spent wisely helps to support the sustainability of all our services,
including provision of vital medications.
“Small actions, like purchasing paracetamol when possible and ordering only the
medicines you need, can collectively make a real difference.”