Please would you sign this petition?

Moggsy_2

Please would you be so kind as to sign a government petition to allow people who suffer with ulcerative colitis to have free prescriptions?

More details from petition creator
Ulcerative colitis is lifelong chronic illness that requires lifelong medication, usually consisting of two or more ongoing prescriptions/medications. Cessation or reduction of such medication will in most cases lead to hospital admission and the requirement for surgery. There is no action that colitis sufferers can take to stop the illness and there is no discernable link between lifestyle and the disease. We would therefore suggest that it is only fair and proper that those diagnosed with colitis should receive free prescriptions for medications associated with their illness.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/IBDPrescriptions/


Thanks in advance!

frivolous_fay

Sorry to hijack, but here's another petition regarding prescription charges for a life-long, debilitating illness:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Asthma/

Toothsmith

Can we all not just be thankful that we have a National Health Service that actually treats these diseases without having to charge the patient directly.

People on low incomes don't have to pay pay prescription charges anyway, and for those that do, prepay certificates keep the cost of the medicines more than reasonable.

Look guys, we have an NHS service that CAN'T give away absolutely everything to this group or that.

It's not a perfect system, but it's pretty good.

'Demanding' extra from it just isn't an option. Who's treatment do you suggest we cut in order to pay for free prescriptions for those that probably could afford it?

frivolous_fay

I see your point Toothsmith, but the reason a lot of prescriptions aren't free is because the treatments hadn't been developed when they sat there going through the list deciding what would be free, and what wouldn't. That's why diabetics and thyroid patients get free drugs, and asthmatics and other life-threatening conditions have to pay.

Essentially, the 'list' is extremely out of date. I heard a year or so ago that it was due to be reviewed, but I'm not holding my breath.

Wish I had a link

frivolous_fay

Maybe we should all move to Wales

Toothsmith

frivolous_fay wrote: »

I see your point Toothsmith, but the reason a lot of prescriptions aren't free is because the treatments hadn't been developed when they sat there going through the list deciding what would be free, and what wouldn't. That's why diabetics and thyroid patients get free drugs, and asthmatics and other life-threatening conditions have to pay.

Essentially, the 'list' is extremely out of date. I heard a year or so ago that it was due to be reviewed, but I'm not holding my breath.

Wish I had a link

Good point.

Maybe it should be more a case of evening things up by removing this status from those diseases, rather than adding others to the list?

Toothsmith

frivolous_fay wrote: »

Maybe we should all move to Wales

I'd rather pay!

cattie

One of the main reasons why people suffering with diabetes & hypothryroidism get free prescriptions is that without the necessary daily medication they would fall into a coma & die. I just thought it worth pointing this out.

Terrylw1

cattie wrote: »

The main reason why people suffering with diabetes or hypothyroidism get free prescriptions is that without the necessary daily medication, they will fall into a coma & die. I just thought it worth pointing this out.

Thats very true, good point. However, asthmatics can suffer the same dire outcome without medication as a diabetic can.

Personally, as an asthmatic (luckily not a seriously afflicted one) I don't mind paying since we can't get everything free and the NHS is suffering coping with what it has got on. It would be nice though.

What would be better would be to spend less money on endless meetings like in the private sector of any business...cut down on those endless lunches too.

Signed both.

frivolous_fay

cattie wrote: »

The main reason why people suffering with diabetes or hypothyroidism get free prescriptions is that without the necessary daily medication, they will fall into a coma & die. I just thought it worth pointing this out.

Yes, and an asthmatic can suffocate. (and die)

Nearly happened to my O/H. He was a student and didn't know he could get free prescriptions, so he'd cut down to one inhaler (not the one that prevents it) Result: rushed to hospital when he went blue, racing heart for several days, a prolonged stay in hospital.

Terrylw1

Sorry to hear that Fay.

I'm pretty lucky as my asthma is not bad at all. I have had a few asthma attacks though and I now how frightening it is. People tell you to calm down and breath deeply. Well, thats not very easy when your lungs can't expell air!

I cut down on my preventatives. I've found that if you keep fit, you just don't need them anywhere near as much. However, it really depends on the extent of your asthma and if you get ill in anyway, you need to go back on them or suffer the consequences.

I've forwarded on the petition to friends who have asthma.