Prescription charges

Old_Git

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-31499941

Health Minister Jim Wells has proposed the reintroduction of prescription charges to pay for a new specialist drugs fund in Northern Ireland.

The amount that would be charged and any exemptions are to be decided during a three-month consultation.

warmhands.coldheart

Flat fee for EVERYONE....... say 50p or £1.00

Might make people think twice about going to the doctors for a prescription for Paracetamol when you can buy it for 25p in Tesco...
I've seen people get various everyday things on prescription... Sudocreme for nappy rash, Paracetamol, Optrex (basic stuff not the antibiotic stuff)......
Prescriptions should be for exactly that..... Prescribed Drugs....... not something you can buy in a local shop or supermarket....

saverbuyer

I remember reading on my twitter feed a few years back a girl I worked with as a student complaining, I mean really going mad, about a young doctor refusing to prescribe calpol. The doctor argued the child didn't need it, the parent insisted she did. The doctor suggested buying it if she was so sure. The number of people on the twitter feed questioning the doctor's credentials was shocking. The abuse, you're entitled, sure it costs nothing...



£1.00 or 50p flat charge, no exemptions, no expensive administration is a great idea. Granted it'll only raise around 20 million with 350 million spent on drugs, but it's fair.


Hopefully stop the entitled thinking they know best.




I can also see this as another tiny step towards water charges.

shortone

I always thought it was a mad decision to withdraw the charges. As previous posts have said it is greatly abused. Why is the common culture we are "entitled" to it. Is it any wonder the country is in the state its in.

Candles_by_Lisa

I get Paracetamol on prescription because I have chronic pain and I take 8 a day. I can only buy two packs of 16 paracetamol at the chemist which means I am having to pick them up every couple of days which when you have chronic pain is a nightmare. My GP prescribes me a months worth of paracetamol saving me all the journeys I would have to make within the month.

Mollyb

It's my understanding that they're proposing to reintroduce these charges to offset the cost of more expensive drugs not covered by NICE. I'm 100% fine with that.....assuming that is actually what the money will be used for. I've a sneaking suspicion this is just another tax though.

jenheiffer

shortone wrote: »

I always thought it was a mad decision to withdraw the charges. As previous posts have said it is greatly abused. Why is the common culture we are "entitled" to it. Is it any wonder the country is in the state its in.

The problem of the likes of the woman mentioned by a previous poster demanding Calpol on prescription for her child would have been there in the days before charges were abolished because the child would have been exempt then too. That's why it might be a good thing if a universal small charge was made for every prescription, with no exemptions.

warmhands.coldheart

Candles_by_Lisa wrote: »

I get Paracetamol on prescription because I have chronic pain and I take 8 a day. I can only buy two packs of 16 paracetamol at the chemist which means I am having to pick them up every couple of days which when you have chronic pain is a nightmare. My GP prescribes me a months worth of paracetamol saving me all the journeys I would have to make within the month.

I'm sure you wouldn't mind paying a £1/month then for that?
I'm on long term medication too and I personally would have no issue with it.... Nothing in life is FREE..... someone has to pay for it!!

warmhands.coldheart

jenheiffer wrote: »

The problem of the likes of the woman mentioned by a previous poster demanding Calpol on prescription for her child would have been there in the days before charges were abolished because the child would have been exempt then too. That's why it might be a good thing if a universal small charge was made for every prescription, with no exemptions.

Calpol......... an overpriced brand....

"Branded" products should NOT be given on prescription when a cheaper generic brand is available (Unless for a proven medical reason) why prescribe branded paracetamol @ £3/packet when you can get generic stuff for 23p / packet....

saverbuyer

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

Calpol......... an overpriced brand....

"Branded" products should NOT be given on prescription when a cheaper generic brand is available (Unless for a proven medical reason) why prescribe branded paracetamol @ £3/packet when you can get generic stuff for 23p / packet....

I just used Calpol to make it easier. I could have said paracetamol suspension but I doubt the mad mum used the generic name on her angry twitter feed.

montyrebel

Candles_by_Lisa wrote: »

I get Paracetamol on prescription because I have chronic pain and I take 8 a day. I can only buy two packs of 16 paracetamol at the chemist which means I am having to pick them up every couple of days which when you have chronic pain is a nightmare. My GP prescribes me a months worth of paracetamol saving me all the journeys I would have to make within the month.

you can buy 3 packs of 16 in poundland and all for the low low price of £1 and Poundworld too


And personally I think it should be brought back with a flat fee of £1 per item or for those people that need constant medication etc a fee of something like £25 or £30 a year