Important information
Through the Self-Care Medicines Scheme, community pharmacies can provide patients in Islington who are on low income with free medicines for minor health conditions that they might otherwise not be able to afford.
Early treatment of common ailments like allergies, earache or minor injuries can help you get better quickly and avoid a visit to your GP.
Check your eligibility at here
Download Self-Care Medicine Scheme here.
What are the benefits?
Early treatment of common ailments like allergies, earache, or minor injuries
Helps you get better quickly and may avoid a visit to your GP
You can check eligibility by:
Visiting nclhealthandcare.org.uk/self-care
Speaking to your local community pharmacy
Download the leaflet
Find out more and join the Self-Care Medicine scheme
Please speak to your local community pharmacy to see if they’re participating in this scheme. Or check out the eligible list here
They’ll be able to let you know if you’re eligible to receive selected free medicines and can check that you’re registered with a GP practice in Islington.
Remember to bring your ID and proof you are eligibility Criteria below
Please note that being exempt from prescription charges doesn’t mean your automatically qualify for this scheme.
Who is Eligible?
The Self-Care Medicines Scheme is only available to patients at risk of health inequalities due to low income. This includes:
- Children under 16 with at least one parent eligible for the service
- People receiving Universal Credit, where income level qualifies for free prescriptions
- People who are homeless with a local authority “Letter of Homelessness”
- People receiving other benefits that give free prescription entitlement, including:
- NHS Low Income Scheme and in possession of a valid HC2 (full health with health costs) certificate
- Income Support (IS) or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Tax Credit exemption certificate
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
- Young people aged 16–18 in full-time or part-time education, or undertaking an accredited apprenticeship
⚠️ Please note: Prescription charge exemption categories DO NOT give eligibility for the Self-Care Medicine Scheme, Unless patient is also in one of the categories listed above
What conditions are covered?
Conditions Covered
The Self-Care Medicines Scheme covers a range of common conditions, including:
- Athlete’s foot
- Constipation (age over 12 years)
- Diarrhoea
- Earache
- Haemorrhoids
- Head lice
- Nappy rash
- Scabies
- Threadworm and Ringworm
- Back pain
- Contact dermatitis
- Dyspepsia and indigestion
- Fever / headache
- Hay fever, allergic rhinitis and allergies
- Minor injuries
- Teething
- Vaginal thrush
- Warts and verrucas
The pharmacist will provide advice on self-care and medication if needed. In some cases, support may be limited to three consultations in a three-month period.
For general health advice or information concerning your medicines please check your NHS App, your pharmacy or call the practice.
You can also find lots of information on conditions, symptoms, treatments and medicines on the NHS website www.nhs.uk
If your worried about about an urgent medical concern, you can call 111 to speak to a fully trained adviser. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.
You can also get help from NHS 111 Online