Parents told stop getting Calpol on prescription when you can buy it for £1.49
08.04.2024 - 13:35
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
When children are poorly parents can end up spending a fair amount on liquid paracetamol.
But one parent's post about how cheap you can buy it for has sparked a row over whether families should be paying for it at all.
In a bid to help other parents, one mum shared a photo of a bottle of a Calpol equivalent you can buy for just £1.49 from Home Bargains.
Sharing it in a budgeting Facebook group, she said: "Paracetamol suspension for children £1.49 in Home Bargains compared to the nearly £4 for a bottle of Calpol."
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Some parents were quick to respond saying they can get it for free through their minor ailments scheme.
"All children can get free medicine from chemist under the minor ailment service," said one. "I've done this for my daughter since she was little. Just ask for paracetamol under minor ailment and they fill form like a prescription."
The scheme used to be more widely available, with pharmacies signing up to so they could give out certain medications without the need for a doctor’s appointment. But with tighter budgets, it's usually now restricted to those on certain benefits, or not offered a all.
Whether parents qualify or not, others responded to the post to urge people to buy it themselves, rather than wasting NHS money on either Calpol or a cheaper unbranded equivalent.
"It costs the NHS a lot more than a couple of pounds a bottle so if people are able to buy it themselves then they should do so," said one.
Another said: "Some people may need it prescribed depending on individual circumstances, but personally if I could afford the £1.50 I wouldn’t be asking the NHS for a prescription for which they would be overcharged for at approx £15