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.”
