Did you know you don’t need to see your GP for hay fever treatment?
Hay fever and seasonal allergy treatments such as tablets, eye drops and nasal sprays are all easily available at low cost from your local pharmacy so there’s no need to get a prescription from your GP.
Antihistamines are usually the best treatment for hay fever and should be taken throughout the summer season to help prevent attacks. Antihistamines can easily be bought from local pharmacies or supermarkets for as little as £2 for a packet of 30 tablets. If a patient goes to their GP to get a prescription then it costs the NHS considerably more.
By going to the pharmacy you’ll be saving yourself time and money, freeing up GP appointments for people with more urgent needs as well as doing your bit to help the NHS save money on unnecessary prescription costs.
For more information about treating allergies or to find your nearest pharmacy and opening times visit www.nhs.uk. There is also an information leaflet which you can download by clicking here
Our top tips to help ease hay fever symptoms:
1 Keep house and car windows closed, especially when the pollen count is high (early morning between 7am to 9am and evenings between 5pm and 7pm)
2 Avoid large grassy areas and cutting the grass
3 Wear wrap-around sunglasses
4 Use petroleum jelly inside your nose to block inhalation of pollen
5 Don’t dry washing outside to avoid pollen sticking to your clothes
6 Shower and change your clothes after you’ve been outside to wash pollen off
7 Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
