Agenda item

To receive a report from the Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group (LCCCG) informing members of the proposals regarding the promotion and education of self-care for Leicester city patients to maximise the benefits of existing resources. The report includes low priority prescribing in particular: gluten free foods and paracetamol and other items for self-limiting illness.

Richard Morris, Director of Corporate Affairs, LCCG will be present at the meeting.

Members considered a report from the Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group (LCCCG) informing members of the proposals regarding the promotion and education of self-care for Leicester city patients to maximise the benefits of existing resources. The report included low priority prescribing in particular: gluten free foods and paracetamol and other items for self-limiting illness.

Sara Prema, Director Strategy and Implementation, Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group (LCCCG) and Lesley Gant, Head of Prescribing LCCCG presented the report to the Commission.

The proposals in the report were to:-

·         either partially or fully cease to prescribe gluten free products for patient with coeliac disease; and

·         support GPs in not prescribing paracetamol and other products for self-limiting illnesses, such as viral infections.

The CCG had a responsibility to provide a reasonable level of care for all patients but was also required to work within the financial resources allocated to them.  The two proposals had been identified as the products involved were now widely available in shops and pharmacies etc at cheaper costs than through prescriptions.  In relation to patients with coeliac disease more than 50% of patients managed their condition with prescriptions for gluten free products.

The Commission’s views were being sought as part of the pre-engagement process and any views would be taken into account before any formal public consultation was carried out on the proposals.  Each of the three CCGs in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland would engage with Patient Participation Groups and work with GPs to contact patients with coeliac disease to make them aware of the consultation process.  A stakeholder event with specialist charity representatives (Coeliac UK) dieticians and coeliac patients had already taken place and a further stakeholder event would be held in relation to paracetamol and other products for self-limiting illnesses.

Commission Members made the following comments and observations:-

a)         There were concerns that the proposals would adversely affect poorer families and the homeless community and their views may be missed in the consultation process.

b)         There should be joint working with children and families teams to see how advice can be disseminated to families in relation to dealing with minor ailments.

c)         The CCG could have used their resources to provide additional training and support to GPs to reduce overprescribing paracetamol for self-limiting illnesses.

d)         There were concerns that other products may be added to the list of products to be removed from being routinely available on prescription.        

In response to Members’ comments and questions it was stated that:-

a)         The CCG’s had links with hard to reach communities and these would be used to ensure that the views of the homeless and homeless services were fed into the consultation process.

b)         Whilst West Leicestershire CCG was taking the lead for the review, Leicester City CCG was still required to approve that the engagement was ‘fit for purpose’ for the City area.

c)         Paracetamol would still be available through prescription for patients that required it for their illness, e.g patients who suffered with arthritis etc.

d)         The consultation process would end on 31 July 2016 and each of the three CCGs would make a decision in relation to their own area of responsibility.

AGREED:

            That a further report be submitted to the next meeting of the Commission on the outcomes of the consultation in relation to the gluten free products and paracetamol.

            That the Commission receive a report should other products be added to the list of products not to routinely available on prescription in the future.