Self-Care Medicines Scheme
From May 2024, people and families on low incomes in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington who struggle to afford medicines may be able to receive selected free non-prescription medicines from local pharmacies.
Community pharmacies taking part in the new North Central London Self-Care Medicines Scheme (which replaces the Self-Care Pharmacy First Pilot Scheme in Camden, Haringey and Islington), can provide eligible patients with selected free medicines for common minor ailments like allergies, earache or minor injuries.
Early treatment for minor conditions can help people get better quickly and avoid a visit to the GP.
A full list of the type of conditions covered by the scheme is available in this Self-Care Medicines Scheme Patient Information Leaflet
Who is eligible?
If your GP or healthcare professional thinks you or your child might be eligible to receive free over the counter medication, they can tell you about the scheme. You can also ask about it at your local community pharmacy, who will be able to check that you meet the criteria and are registered with a North Central London GP practice.
To obtain medicines under the scheme you will need to provide ID and evidence of your eligibility e.g. a Universal Credit or Income Support letter.
Please note that being exempt from prescription charges does not mean you automatically qualify for the Self-Care Medicines Scheme.
Speak to your local community pharmacy to see if they are participating in this scheme and whether you qualify to receive selected free medicines.
You can also view eligibility criteria in the Self-Care Medicines Scheme Patient Information Leaflet
What is Self Care?
Self-care means looking after yourself in a healthy way, whether it is brushing your teeth, taking medicine when you have hay fever or doing some exercise. Advice from organisations such as the Self Care Forum and NHS.UK is readily available on the internet.
The NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB) is committed to delivering best value to patients by ensuring that we use our resources well.
Therefore, to help us to support the cost effective, evidence-based use of medicines, NCL ICB no longer supports the routine prescribing of probiotics, vitamins and minerals and medicines that people can buy over-the-counter for self-limiting, short-term illnesses and minor conditions.
Helping people manage their own minor health needs through self-care will help ease pressure on the NHS, and is in line with the NHS England Guidance for ICBs: ‘Conditions for which over the counter medicines should not be routinely prescribed in primary care’.
• Prescribing of over-the-counter medicines – NHS England (6 pages)
• Prescribing of over-the-counter medicines – NHS England Easy Read
• Prescribing of over-the-counter medicines – NHS England Leaflet to print
Self-Care Pharmacy First – Pilot scheme
The Self-Care Pharmacy First Pilot Scheme which ran in Camden, Haringey, and Islington between July 2021 and April 2024 has been replaced by the Self Care Medicines Scheme, above.