DOCTORS are urging vulnerable patients not to avoid treatments they cannot afford after health chiefs stopped prescribing some medicines that are available over the counter.

NHS Vale Royal and Southern Cheshire clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), which control the budget for health services in Northwich, Winsford, Middlewich, Crewe and Nantwich, no longer allow GPs to prescribe medicines for minor conditions – such as painkillers for aches, cough medicines or moisturisers for dry skin.

The policy is designed to prevent stockpiling of medicines, while it is also meant to go someway towards helping health services in the area recover from a £30 million cash shortfall.

Winsford Town Council had raised fears that the move could mean that elderly residents, or patients living in poverty, might avoid the treatment they need if they cannot afford to pay for it over the counter.

But Dr Fiona McGregor-Smith, GP and prescribing lead for both CCGs, told the Guardian that patients should not go without medicine, and that exceptions to the rule can be made for some patients.

“In October 2016, following a period of public engagement, the CCGs adopted a new policy to encourage patients to buy medicines which were available over the counter rather than by prescription, to free up GP appointments and make better use of resources,” she said.

“However, this policy is only for those with minor illnesses and not for longer-term health conditions and exceptions can also be made in certain clinical or social circumstances.

“If a patient is concerned, they should talk to their GP rather than not taking medication.”

Members of Winsford Town Council had raised concerns about the policy at a meeting on Monday, October 16, after patients at Weaver Vale Surgery received a newsletter which explained the policy and said it would help to ‘protect the future of your doctor’s surgery and community services’.

Cllr Charlie Parkinson, member for Over, said: “We should raise our concerns for people who are less fortunate – paying for medication could be a big chunk out of their budget.

“We don’t know what this policy is going to do. A lot of people will not take medicine for one reason or another.”

Cllr Mike Kennedy, member for Dene and mayor of Winsford Town Council, added: “I accept that the NHS needs funding and the CCG has looked at it closely, and there have been incidents of stockpiling medicines.

“But I don’t believe the majority of people are stockpiling medicines, and this needs to be given a lot more thought.”