The NHS in parts of Nottinghamshire is changing what can be given on prescription as part of plans to save £20m.

NHS Mansfield and Ashfield and Newark and Sherwood CCGs are planning to stop NHS prescriptions of gluten free foods and low-priority medicines and over-the-counter remedies, such as Paracetamol and hayfever preparations.

The public are being asked for their views at a series of events in January.

They are on Monday, 9th January, at the Larwood Suite, Ashfield Health & Wellbeing Centre, from 5pm-7pm; on Tuesday, 10th January, at Holy Trinity Community & Partnership Centre, Boundary Road, Newark, from 5pm-7pm; on Wednesday, 11th January, at Lifespring Centre, Sherwood Drive, New Ollerton, from 10am-noon; and on Thursday, 12th January, at Mansfield Library, Four Seasons Centre, West Gate, Mansfield, from 2pm-4pm.

Currently eligible people in Mansfield and Ashfield and Newark and Sherwood can claim up to eight items of gluten free products such as bread, flour and pasta.

Approximately one per cent of people have gluten intolerance. Gluten free food is currently prescribed on the NHS for adults and children who have Coeliac Disease or Dermatitis Herpetiformis who require a gluten free diet.

The availability and range of gluten free foods has led to a rethink about the provision of free prescriptions, which cost the local NHS around £165,000 per year in Mansfield and Ashfield and Newark and Sherwood.

The NHS is also planning to end prescriptions of over-the-counter remedies such as paracetamol or hayfever preparations, which cost the NHS significantly more to prescribe than they are for the public to buy. The prescription of over-the-counter remedies costs the local NHS around £1.5 million each year.

Instead, people are being asked to seek advice from pharmacies about the best possible remedies for every day illnesses such as coughs and colds and minor skin ailments as well as a range of other problems that do not require a prescription.

It is expected that the local NHS could redirect funds spent on prescribing over-the-counter remedies into other clinical services, and GP consultation time could be better used to help patients that require treatment for more complex conditions. The change would affect people who are prescribed over-the-counter medication for non-complex conditions.

Patients who have chronic or complex conditions who are routinely receiving over-the-counter available medication will continue to receive medication.

Clinical commissioning groups are also looking to remove the prescription of low priority or branded medicines, which costs the NHS around £1.2m per year. Currently GPs can prescribe medication that is not approved for use locally on NHS prescription but are still prescribed for some patients with certain conditions.

NHS leaders plan to end prescriptions for branded or low priority medications that are more expensive and have no additional benefit than usual approved medicines. Examples are a higher cost brand; Losec, for the treatment of heartburn and stomach ulcers, which has the same active ingredient as generic omeprazole; or choosing the best value antihistamine to treat hayfever symptoms.

People already in receipt of low priority medication will be offered a treatment review with their GP to make sure they are receiving the right medication for their conditions.

The public are being asked to comment about all the plans which are expected to be introduced by March 2017. People can complete a survey or can attend a number of drop-in events in January to allow them to comment about the plans.

Dr Amanda Sullivan, chief officer for NHS Mansfield and Ashfield and Newark and Sherwood CCG said: “Prescribing is the source of a huge expense to the NHS. We know from talking to our patients that they generally support plans to make sensible savings where there is no detriment to the health of the population. We face extraordinary pressures on our finances and this is not going to change any time soon.

“We believe that making these changes will help us to prioritise funding for clinical services where those funds can be better used. We have a responsibility to manage our budgets in the best way possible in order that essential services are sustainable into the future.”