prescriptions

webbit

Northern Ireland - prescriptions are free of charge.

Scotland – the prescription charge is £3.00 and will be reduced further every year until 1st April 2011 when prescriptions will be free of charge.

Wales – prescriptions are free of charge.

England £7.20

Surely this is not fair.

lucylucky

Correct, but then neither is life.

HooCanTellMee

Hi to All,
I have a joint problem, and have "tried" several types of pain killer, a case of finding the most effective drug for me!
My real problem with prescription drugs is what happens when you don't need, find that they are not effective or can't take all of the items. I have recently gotten a repeat prescription, taken two tablets out of 28 and now been told not to take the rest, they are could be making a more recent problem worse. This couldn't have been foreseen, but the pills can now only be disposed of, although they are foil wrapped, and only one of the packs have been started. What a waste! This can't be the most economic way to run a service. I don't begrudge the prescription charge, just the sheer stupidity of having to throw away perfectly good pills, they are in virtually tamper-proof packs, but I have been told by my local chemist they have to be thrown away, and cannot be re-used. They are not out of date, and could be used to help someone else, or even sent to less affluent countries to be used for less fortunate people.

Gillyx

That's what devolution does though, not to be tied to Westminsters apron strings has it's pros but it also has it's cons aswell.

Rolandtheroadie

No council tax rises for years either.

malkie76

hey are not out of date, and could be used to help someone else, or even sent to less affluent countries to be used for less fortunate people.

You may wish to try these folks to recycle unused medicines to be prescribed in Africa - http://www.intercare.org.uk/

Surely this is not fair.

You are free to move to any area of the UK to enjoy free, or cheaper prescriptions. You are also free to lobby your local MP, or Government itself for lower charges in England. Of course there is only a finite amount of money, so free prescriptions means less service in other areas. For example hospital waiting times in England is far lower than Scotland, so to some extent it's swings and roundabouts. It's also worth remembering that only ~10% of prescritions are actually paid for.....

molerat

We pay more for dental treatment in Scotland than in England so swings and roundabouts.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

webbit wrote: »

Northern Ireland - prescriptions are free of charge.

Scotland – the prescription charge is £3.00 and will be reduced further every year until 1st April 2011 when prescriptions will be free of charge.

Wales – prescriptions are free of charge.

England £7.20

Surely this is not fair.

We also have about 50 million more people in our country then they do..

I dont mind paying fro a prescription if we got it for full price it would be a lot more.

charlie792

Actually Im somewhat ashamed to admit I never knew Wales had free prescriptions until I moved here - was somewhat a surprise just getting handed my meds and walking out of the pharmacy

fluffnutter

malkie76 wrote: »

It's also worth remembering that only ~10% of prescritions are actually paid for.....

Just to clarify.. this isn't the same as ~90% of people being exempt from prescription charges. Approximately 80% of 18 - 60 year olds have to pay for their prescriptions.

keithdc

webbit wrote: »

Northern Ireland - prescriptions are free of charge.

Scotland – the prescription charge is £3.00 and will be reduced further every year until 1st April 2011 when prescriptions will be free of charge.

Wales – prescriptions are free of charge.

England £7.20

Surely this is not fair.

A small price to pay for not living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.