Selfish/thoughtless NHS users

Alice_Walker

Morglin wrote: »

These are the illnesses/diseases/criteria that would entitle a person to free prescriptions,

...

Lin

jack_pott asked how the exempt conditions are determined, not for a copy of the list!

borkid

Faith177 wrote: »

Also stopping prescriptions for off the self painkillers like paracetamol would help

Sometimes people need more than available at the local chemist. My doctor used to prescribe me 200 at a time. If I'd gone to the local chemist I would have to have gone every other day and it would entail a drive. The reason I was taking them in the first place was due to osteoarthritus and driving was very painful. After the drive the joints were quite swollen. I'd asked the chemist to telephone my doctor to check I could have more than the 'allocated amount' but they refused. Living in a rural location meant all shops were a drive away.

borkid

paddedjohn wrote: »

I'd like to see free scripts scrapped for benefit claimants , £10 if working and £5 if on benefits would be fair I reckon.
People on benefits already have their income upped to that of an employed person so why the extra benefits of free scripts/free school meals/free dentist etc etc.

Not if single and on ESA they are the people who need the free prescriptions and free GP appointments.

I'd rather charge for missing appointments ie if you miss an appointment without informing the surgery in time for them to allocate the appointment time to another patient then. before you can get another appointment. you need to pay £x. The doctor knows the patient so if, for example, the patient suffered from migrains which made them unsafe to drive and that was the reason they couldn't give enough notice then the charge could be waived

teddysmum

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

..and, when it comes to free prescriptions, what I dont understand is why all prescriptions for everyone are free IF they live in Wales.

Both Wales and Scotland have a health budget that they can allocate as they please.


However, there have been many stories of Welsh people dissatisfied with the free prescriptions regime ,as these are at the expense of the loss of other services, such as particular cancer treatments. (The people in the stories had to move to England, to get the cancer treatment free of charge).

The-Truth

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

I'd rather see people charged/inconvenienced for abuse of the system, rather than use.

I agree and to go further there should be very hefty fines for things like this! Sore-footed shopper in Stratford-upon-Avon calls 999 for lift home

likelyfran

Browntoa wrote: »

Someone I know of booked an online appointment every week in case they needed it ......despite numerous people pointing out how selfish and stupid it was

And loads got wasted?
Wow, that's awful!

NBLondon

borkid wrote: »

Sometimes people need more than available at the local chemist. My doctor used to prescribe me 200 at a time. If I'd gone to the local chemist I would have to have gone every other day and it would entail a drive. The reason I was taking them in the first place was due to osteoarthritus and driving was very painful. After the drive the joints were quite swollen. I'd asked the chemist to telephone my doctor to check I could have more than the 'allocated amount' but they refused. Living in a rural location meant all shops were a drive away.

And of course - the joined up thinking would have been for the doctor to be able to produce a letter that would allow you to go to a convenient large chemist or supermarket and buy 10 packs of 32. Saving money all round. Given that a lot of pharmacies are now offering automated repeat prescriptions for local surgeries - this should be something that could be put on the system so all they need to do is check that you are the right person.


Now paracetamol overdoses can be pretty horrible (if you survive - your liver is pretty much ruined) but if I actually wanted to buy stupid amounts of it, I could do so in about a 15 minute walk. So the rule is more for covering their backs than actual prevention.

MothballsWallet

Becles wrote: »

I'm not sure who is in charge of the list.

I know Crohns and Colitis UK charity had a meeting with some MP's to discuss the disease including adding it to the list for free prescriptions, there was something to do with the way it's classed for disabled benefits, and improved signage and more accessible toilets for all people with invisible disabilities. The MP's didn't take it seriously and just kept giggling at the word diarrhoea

Strange - most MPs are experts at spouting diarrhoea

I think conditions like MS should also be on the list - but I bet IVF is (as bloody usual in this country).

JReacher1

We are a very rich country. We can afford to provide free prescriptions to some of the more vulnerable members of society.

missbiggles1

borkid wrote: »

Sometimes people need more than available at the local chemist. My doctor used to prescribe me 200 at a time. If I'd gone to the local chemist I would have to have gone every other day and it would entail a drive. The reason I was taking them in the first place was due to osteoarthritus and driving was very painful. After the drive the joints were quite swollen. I'd asked the chemist to telephone my doctor to check I could have more than the 'allocated amount' but they refused. Living in a rural location meant all shops were a drive away.

Surely a note from the doctor explaining the situation would be better than prescribing them? Simply having a prescription doesn't make it any more likely that a pharmacy would have large quantities in stock.