NHS splashed almost £100million prescribing items such as bread and paracetamol last year

An investigation has uncovered that the NHS spent close to £100million last year on items that patients could easily purchase from shops and pharmacies.

The probe revealed that 15.7 million packets of paracetamol were prescribed at a cost of £64.4million, despite the common painkiller being sold in stores for just 29p.

Analysis of GP prescription records also showed that gluten-free bread from brands, including Warburtons and Genius, accounted for £830,700 of public spending, with nearly 293,000 loaves dispensed through the health service.

The investigation by The Sun found that skincare products from Aveeno, the brand endorsed by Jennifer Aniston, were prescribed 664,700 times at a total expense of £6.1million to the taxpayer.

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Within that figure, body wash alone accounted for 89,138 prescriptions costing £811,700.

Toothpaste was also dispensed through the NHS on 12,600 occasions, despite being a standard supermarket purchase.

Perhaps most surprisingly, the throat lozenge Strepsils appeared on NHS prescriptions 444 times, adding £1,570 to the overall bill.

Every one of these products can be bought without a prescription at high street pharmacies or supermarkets across the country.

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The £97.9million total expenditure follows revelations from former deputy chief medical officer Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, who disclosed that the NHS once arranged a £70 taxi for him to collect medication worth just 50p.

NHS England responded to the findings by stating: "Over-the-counter medicines should not be routinely prescribed at GPs at unnecessary costs to taxpayers."

The health body added: "While prescriptions can still be issued where clinically appropriate, many minor conditions can be managed through self-care and pharmacy support."

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