Rumours Re Scrapping Prescription Charges?

A college tutor said never to give people something for nothing, they don't appreciate it. We see this with the NHS in general, people missing appointments for instance.

They should publicise the prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) and maybe increase the number of illnesses that qualify for an exemption certificate.

The pharmacy also needs to see the exemption certificate when someone signs the back of the prescription and says they are exempt. As far as I know they simply hand out the medicine without seeing proof they are actually exempt.

OldFrill

Marydoll - assuming you're over 60 you would get free prescriptions in England. Many long term health conditions are also covered.

I had a prepayment card for years, until free prescriptions were introduced.

Marydoll - assuming you're over 60 you would get free prescriptions in England. Many long term health conditions are also covered.

If true it will be taken from increased taxation which will impact everyone whether pensioner or not if they are subject to tax.
If true I hope that more of a check and review of medications prescribed will be undertaken regularly. And people encouraged not to stockpile.

Thank goodness I live in Scotland, where prescriptions are free.

I suffer from folliculitis and was in the pharmacy looking for advice, because my usual shampoo had been discontinued.
The assistant advised buying one, which I was willing to pay for. (It was £10.)
She came back and said, there was no charge, the pharmacist had dispensed it under the minor ailments policy!

I have twenty two repeats and a hospital one, which costs £1000 per month.
I am indeed a drain on the National Health Service and would be dead, if I lived in the USA.

Big mistake if they do. I personally think if you are still working and not at state pension age you should pay. Free from age 60, needs to be changed.

Just continue free for those who need to be exempt for specific conditions like cancer, diabetes (non-diet), epilepsy, specified endocrine/thyroid disorders, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, severe physical disabilities. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is also covered.
Roughly 89% of prescription items in England are dispensed free. English policy relies on the remaining 11% who can afford it to help.

The Devolved Countries have less population and more money per person from Westminster, so they choose to spend it this way.

Think it is through higher taxes MOnica. Perhaps the Scots made that choice for themselves?

Prescription charges raise £600m/yr, useful revenue, an annual prepayment costs £115if you arent exempt.

My own view is that if you can afford to pay you should it's £2 a week, however it's quite likely that charges will be abolished as a sweetener for other less palatable changes.

I don’t think this is affordable at all but then I get mine free being on State pension.
How can it be funded without huge tax rises?

The cost of primary health prescribed medications is well over £10 billion a year. What would you tax or what expenditure would you cut to finance this.

What is needed is more publicity for the Prescription 'Season ticket'

How did Wales and Scotland finance this measure?

But if people are on several prescriptions they can buy prepayment certificates which save an awful lot of money. It’s just that surgeries and pharmacies don’t publicise them very well. They’re especially good if you start a new medication and might have to keep changing the dose till you get it right. And when I worked at a doctors very few people seemed to pay for prescriptions anyway; many people seemed to be on benefits etc. or on thyroid tablets.