Self Care OTC campaign and other self help guides

Self-limiting conditions are illnesses or conditions which will either resolve themselves without medical intervention or which have no long-term harmful effect on a person’s health. Minor ailments are uncomplicated conditions which can be diagnosed and managed without medical intervention.

Mid Essex CCG considers funding of medicines for minor ailments and self-limiting conditions and self-care to be a patients’ personal responsibility. All patients, regardless of where they live, should be able to access and purchase such medicines.

We ask mid Essex GPs not to prescribe OTC medicines where it is reasonable and appropriate for patients to obtain low-cost OTC medication direct from pharmacies, in line with advice from the GMC.

The resources below are to support  practices and patients and to encourage self-care.