Give asthmatics free inhalers

Indie_Kid

You don't get free prescriptions if your diabetes is controlled by diet. Not everyone who is diabetic has it because of poor lifestyle choices.

On the subject of lifestyle choices - my asthma is partly caused by exercise. So, in my case, I would more than likely no have asthma if I didn't exercise...

V_For_Verminator

Some absolutely staggering ignorance of the reasons behind asthma and diabetes on this thread. Absolutely staggering.

rochja

Salbutamol inhalers in generic form cost about £9.50. That is around 120% of the cost of a prescription. There are many much dearer treatments for all sorts of conditions upon which many rely. Because the NHS is notoriously bad at controlling costs there is little downward pressure on the price of drugs in this country. Compare that to the cost of AIDS medication which is now a miniscule fraction of its original cost due to the bulk buying power of the likes of the Clinton foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates' foundations et al. It seems to me that the NHS should launch a two pronged attack on this problem. People should pay either the prescription cost or the cost of the medication if it is less than a certain multiple of the prescription cost - for instance, 150%. This should apply in all cases except those of extreme hardship determined by family income being less than the minimum wage of the family unit assuming all adults to be working. Such people could be exempted the charge. Many will disagree with this formula but I would certainly propose it as a basis for negotiations for change. Basing the case for exemption from charge on the need for the drug in order to survive is as specious as basing the argument for payment of food on the need for it in order to survive. A side benefit is that more self reliance and less State dependance reduces the power of the State.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Mockingjays wrote: »

I agree that obese people with type 2 diabetes who developed diabetes due to their lifestyle should not get free prescriptions, but not those who couldn't help developing it. I do appreciate that this is not the case for all diabetics. The strain obesity is putting on the NHS is well known, as is the rise in obesity related type 2 diabetes. If they had to pay maybe they'd be encouraged do something to help their health.

I've had my asthma all my life through no fault of my own, and a cousin died from his asthma. I know 3 people who've got type 2 diabetes through their obesity and now get free prescriptions because they're on medication due to not being able to control it by diet.

If you make yourself ill through your lifestyle (obesity related type 2 diabetes) you get free prescriptions. If you have a chronic condition through no fault of your own, you pay for prescriptions.

I'm not sure how this is fair exactly?

Absolute bo11ock5!

So my cholesterol was 3.6, 2.4. And I collapsed. Pacemaker fitted! Tested. No diabetes, yet could be classed as obese, but fit. Cholesterol now 3.1, 2.1, but now on statins as consultants needs it less than 4 2.

And yes I enjoy a pint! Still do. But then again, you know all about this don't you! And I am one off a prescription drug to get an prepaid certificate.


And another thing, prescription drugs are free in Wales and Scotland, as the cost of collecting this charge outweighs its benefit.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

savemoney wrote: »

I never understand why its excluded either. That said I also have to pay for my high blood pressue. I just pay a yearly prescription now as it works out slightly cheaper. I also have to take pain killers but that's for short term, broke my wrist

Your repeat prescription medication should be for 84 days. If you are on two prescription drugs, it is cheaper to pay per prescription, another prescription, get a pre paid exemption card. With heart disease, you can get free flu and other vaccines each season.

System

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

Your repeat prescription medication should be for 84 days.

No, they may do up to 84 days but it is the doctor's decision. My surgery will only do repeat prescriptions on a 28 day basis.

Anatidaephobia

I live in Scotland so am lucky enough that I don't have to pay prescription charges for anything including my inhalers.

I don't understand the politics nor the financial reasoning behind it but can't help feeling it is unfair that so many in England have to pay ever increasing fees for prescriptions meanwhile virtually everyone else in the UK gets theirs for free. If the rest of the UK started paying for prescriptions again, would that mean that everybody could pay a lower price? Where does the budget come to allow free prescriptions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland yet it isn't a possibility in England? I am genuinely curious to understand this better.

I really appreciate my free prescriptions but I would rather pay a lower cost (lower than £7.85, I mean) if it meant everyone else was also paying a lower cost, rather than a smaller number of us getting it free but all of England having to pay high costs.

System

One thing that helps toward free prescriptions is that Wales and Scotland get a higher amount of public money per head than England because they are considered deprived areas.

lisyloo

I agree that obese people with type 2 diabetes who developed diabetes due to their lifestyle should not get free prescriptions

I find this a bit judgmental.
We deem fat people (yes I said the word fat :-) to be lazy, greedy etc.
What about someone's lifestyle decision to have a child which has affected their weight, what if they have some condition that makes it impossible for them to exercice.
What if some trauma or mental condition means they have a food additction.

If someone was additicted to prescription medication I think we'd be mostly sympathetic as a society, even sympathetic to people hooked on alchohol, drugs or gambling.
We seem very unsympathetic as a society to people who have a bad relationship to food (for which there could be dozens of reasons).

I do overeat too much myself sometimes and use food when I'm depressed etc. lots of us do, however I'm lucky in that it results in me being overweight rather than obeise. That's simply a matter of metabolism.
I know people who eat more who are stick thin and some who eat less who are fatter than me.

Just an observation that we don't treat obeisity as possibly an illness where we seem to be sympathetic to a whole range of other things.