AN ongoing public consultation on a care scheme for minor ailments will last until next month.

The NHS organisation responsible for the shaping and buying of health services in St Helens wants to hear the views of the public as it reviews the future of its ‘Care at the Chemist’ scheme.

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The ‘Care at the Chemist’ scheme for minor ailments is available to the public in all but two patient-facing pharmacies in St Helens and patients eligible for free prescriptions can obtain treatment for 27 minor ailments free of charge.

St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is holding the consultation until Saturday, September 21 and is asking the public should it:

• Cease the service

• Limit the number of pharmacies who offer the minor ailment service, for example only those pharmacies that are open 100 hours will be able to offer the service.

• Limit the number minor ailments and treatments offered

• Only offer the service to those aged 17 years and under.

Professor Sarah O’Brien, strategic director of people's services and clinical accountable officer at St Helens CCG, said: “It is right that we regularly review our services to ensure that we’re providing the most effective treatments and value for money for our population.

“The ‘Care at the Chemist’ scheme currently costs the CCG £200,000 to £250,000 each year and we want the public’s view on whether they think this is best use of limited NHS resources when over the counter medicines such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can now be purchased very cheaply at supermarkets and other high street stores.

“We also want to ensure that people self-care where possible and understand when to get advice from a pharmacist, a GP or another health professional by visiting http://www.selfcareforum.org/”

The consultation launched in July and there are a number of ways people can give their views between now and the 21st September:

• Visit sthelensccg.nhs.uk and complete the online survey, call 01744 627596 to request a paper copy or complete the survey over the phone, or email engagement@sthelensccg.nhs.uk. The CCG will be linking in with local community groups and running drop in sessions in the town centre and throughout the borough over consultation period to ensure as many people as possible can have their say and give their opinions.