England’s Department of Health is looking to extend the list of long-term conditions that are exempt from prescription charges. Instead of doing that, why not bring in free prescriptions, which is undoubtedly the fairest and simplest option, which the Welsh Assembly Government did nearly two years ago now? It’s questionable as to the wisdom of just adding to the list of those who don’t have to pay when only 11% of prescriptions currently attract a charge across the boarder any way, and that will soon drop further, with the abolition of charges for cancer patients.
Scrapping prescription charges in Wales was seen by some as being a gimmick, when what it actually shows is a long term investment in managing chronic conditions and improving health and ultimately helping to reduce the cost and pressure on the NHS.
Since being introduced in Wales, the scheme has proved to be both popular and beneficial, particularly to those people with long-term conditions. Before the inception of free prescriptions, there was evidence that some patients didn’t take their medicines, simply because they couldn’t afford all those prescribed by their GPs. Now they can take their medications as advised, free of the worry of payment. Scotland and Northern Ireland have followed our lead, surely now it’s about time England bit the bullet and did the same.
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... Before the inception of free prescriptions, there was evidence that some patients didn’t take their medicines, simply because they couldn’t afford all those prescribed by their GPs ... "
ReplyDeleteWhere exactly is your evidence to support this claim?
As you rightly point out, those patients who NEED prescriptions (and don't have the ability to pay) get them free anyway. So what exactly is the point of making prescriptions free for those who have the ability to pay?
There's a sense of inevitability now, that England will eventually relent and start dishing out drugs for free.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it will take a few more years, and a gradual decrease in prescription costs (as happened in Wales), but I can't see how the English will tolerate being the only nation in the UK where patients still pay for prescriptions.
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteFor evidence to support the claim that some patients were not taking medication due to not being able to afford it, see below...
Research by Macmillan Cancer Support suggests one in seven cancer patients aged 55 and under, who currently pays for prescriptions, is unable to afford his or her treatment.
Ipsos MORI research for national charity Citizens Advice revealed last year that around 800,000 people failed to collect a prescription in England because of the cost involved. This group includes people with cancer, asthma and HIV, which are not on the list of exemptions from charges.
According to the government 88% of prescriptions are free but most of those are for children and for pensioners. In 2001 the government admitted that in the age group 18-59, 80% had to pay.
And as Chanticleer has commented here - "how long will the English tolerate being the only nation in the UK where patients still pay for prescriptions?"
Need I say more? The evidence as requested is undeniably there - over and above the anecdotal experience of doctors on the front line.
And, the urban myth that, since free prescriptions were introduced in Wales the demand for Bonjela has gone through the roof - is just that - an urban myth.
Look at the prescribing evidence in Wales, as I have. The numbers of scripts (which were relatively tiny anyway) have actually fallen since free prescriptions were introduced in Wales. Unless of course someone is aware of a mouth ulcer pandemic that just hasn't yet hit the NHS and there is a secret Bonjela stockpile somewhere no-one is telling us about.
Medication is a treatment and when clinically indicated, it should be provided according to the founding principles of the NHS - free at the point of need - long may it be so in Wales!
As you're lying in a hospital bed, your treatment (medicines) is free. As soon as you walked out through the door, you had to pay for your medicies (treatment). THis anomoly has now been fixed.
ReplyDeleteDon't we agree that NHS treatment should be free to everybody?
The Lib Dems say that millionaires should pay for medicines. Should they then pay for hospital food too? And what about bed linen? Or (if Ryanauir can suggest it) - use the toilets!
ReplyDelete