Boots and the Minor Ailment Service

ByCraig Haley

Posts about a Boots “Minor Ailment Scheme” are floating across social media, informing parents that they need not purchase medicines for children as it will be provided for free in a scheme that has been running for 8 years but “cannot be advertised”.

See below.

boots-scheme

These posts are based on a real service, but be aware of some misinformation here.

Firstly, it’s the “Minor Ailments Service” not “Scheme” and it is not run by Boots Pharmacy, but by the NHS. Also, despite the implication in the post, the service is not available in all Boots pharmacies, only selected stores. It can also operate in other pharmacies not related to Boots, as well.

The assertion that it “cannot be advertised” is baseless. There are links to it on the Boots website and information available on the NHS website too.

In response to queries regarding the service on their social media pages, Boots responded with the below message –

I’m afraid this post shared by a member of the public does not give the correct information and insinuates that the scheme is more widespread than it is.

The Minor Ailments service is an NHS scheme which is available in selected pharmacies. Your local Boots Pharmacist will be able to let you know if they offer the service and you can find more information on the link below:

http://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Pharmacy/LocationSearch/10

As the scheme is run by the NHS and not us, we are sadly unable to update the page. The best thing to do is to ask your local pharmacy for local participants in the scheme. As it is run by the NHS, participants do change.

The scheme is available to people who already do not pay for their prescriptions, and involves an assessment for eligibility.

Additionally, the NHS discuss this service on their website –

If you or your children don’t pay for prescriptions you can use the NHS Minor Ailments service to get advice and medicines free of charge.

The NHS Minor Ailments service is available at pharmacies in Scotland, Northern Ireland and selected stores in England and Wales so check locally with your Boots pharmacist for availability.


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There is also a FAQ on the Boots website which states in part –

The service is available to customers who:
– Are entitled to free prescriptions.
– Are registered with a doctor taking part in the Minor Ailments Service.
– Are suffering from one of these illnesses (below).

So yes, the service is real, but there are certain requirements to be eligible and it is only available in select stores. As per the advice given by Boots, check in with your pharmacy for more information on local availability.

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