Common Ailments Service

Common Ailments Service (CAS)
– Information for Healthcare Professionals

The Common Ailments Service (CAS) is a scheme offered by local pharmacies that should be considered as an alternative to a GP referral. It provides patients with free NHS advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses.

On this page
1. Who can access the Common Ailments Service
2. Conditions included in the Common Ailments Service
3. More information
4. Patient Group Directions

The following information is for healthcare professionals. Members of the public and patients can find information here.

Who can access the Common Ailments Service

The service is designed to provide advice and treatment to those with a common ailment. Any patient who is remaining in Wales for 24 hours after accessing the service is eligible to receive treatment through CAS.

Condition-specific exclusions do apply in some situations. These are based on age, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and clinical exclusions. Exclusion criteria can be found on the condition monograph or in the Quick Reference Guide below.

Conditions included in the Common Ailments Service

The following 26 conditions are included within the Common Ailments Service:

  1. Acne vulgaris
  2. Allergic rhinitis
  3. Athlete’s foot
  4. Chickenpox (in children under 14 years of age)
  5. Cold sores
  6. Colic (infantile)
  7. Conjunctivitis (bacterial)
  8. Constipation
  9. Diarrhoea
  10. Dry skin including dermatitis and atopic eczema
  11. Dry eye disease
  12. Dyspepsia
  13. Haemorrhoids
  1. Head lice
  2. Ingrowing toenail
  3. Lower back pain without radiculopathy (acute)
  4. Mouth ulcers (simple aphthous)
  5. Nappy rash
  6. Oral thrush
  7. Ringworm, tinea cruris and intertrigo
  8. Scabies
  9. Sore throat
  10. Teething
  11. Threadworms
  12. Vulvovaginal thrush
  13. Warts and verrucae

Patients suffering with a condition that is not included above will not be able to receive advice or treatment through the Common Ailments Service. However, a pharmacist may still be able to advise them on their condition and recommend possible over the counter treatments for them to buy.

Patients suffering with an eye condition should visit their local optometrist first. A free NHS eye exam may be available. More information and a list of opticians that offer a free eye check can be found here.

More information

For more information, please find our Quick Reference Guide here (also available in Welsh). This includes more detail on the conditions covered by the service.

Additional patient information can be found on our Common Ailments Service – patient information page. This page also contains patient information leaflets for all of the conditions, available in English and Welsh.

Patient Group Directions (PGDs)

Below are PGD templates for pharmacists delivering the Common Ailment Service component of the Clinical Community Pharmacy Service. These PGDs are not legal or valid without authorisation by the Local Health Board in which they are operating.

Local contractors should access their locally adopted versions of the PGDs via their Local Health Board PGD pages.

PGD template Formulation Indication
Anusol® HCOintment and suppository Haemorrhoids
Azelastine hydrochloride 0.1%Nasal spray Allergic rhinitis
Benzoyl preoxide 5%Gel Acne vulgaris
Chloramphenicol 0.5%Eye drops Bacterial conjunctivitis
Chloramphenicol 1%Eye ointment Bacterial conjunctivitis
Clobetasone 0.05%Cream and ointment Dry skin
Clotrimazole 1% and 2%Cream Athlete's foot, fungal skin infection, nappy rash and vulvo-vaginal candidiasis
Clotrimazole 10%Vaginal cream Vulvo-vaginal candidiasis
Clotrimazole 500 mgVaginal pessary Vulvo-vaginal candidiasis
Docusate sodium 100 mgCapsule Constipation
Duac Once Daily®Gel Acne vulgaris
Fluconazole 150 mgCapsule Vulvo-vaginal candidiasis
Fluticasone furoate 27.5 micrograms per doseNasal spray Allergic rhinitis
Fluticasone propoionate 50 micrograms per doseNasal spray Allergic rhinitis
Hydrocortisone 1%Cream and ointment Athlete's foot, dry skin, intertrigo and nappy rash
Ibuprofen 10%Gel Acute lower back pain without radiculopathy
Lansoprazole 15 mg and 30 mgGastro-resistant capsule Dyspepsia and gastroprotection from NSAID treatment in lower back pain
Macrogol 3350Oral powder sachets Constipation
Mebendazole 100 mg and 100 mg per 5 mLChewable tablets and oral suspension Threadworm
Miconazole 2%Oral gel Oral candidiasis
Mometasone 50 micrograms per doseNasal spray Allergic rhinitis
Naproxen 250 mgGastro-resistant tablet Acute lower back pain without radiculopathy
Nystatin 100,000 units per mLOral suspension Oral candidiasis
Omeprazole 20 mgGastro-resistant capsule Dyspepsia and gastroprotection from NSAID treatment in lower back pain
ScheriproctOintment and suppository Haemorrhoids
Terbinafine 1%Cream Athlete's foot and fungal skin infection
WordPress Tables Plugin
Change history

18 Sep 23

Published.

Cymraeg