'You didn’t die as a child? Pay for your prescription' blog discussion

Former_MSE_Lawrence

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's 'You didn’t die as a child? Pay for your prescription' Blog.

Click reply to discuss below.

Gemmzie

Whilst I completely agree that they should have prescriptions related to their illness for free. I think that trying to change the legislation would open a can of worms for other childhood illnesses which aren't currently covered to be changed too.

Therefore, the whole freebie prescription due to illness needs an overhaul

Fuchsia_a

Prescription charges for chronic conditions when other chronic conditions are exempt from charging is grossly unfair. I always thought the point of the NHS was to tax everyone to assist the unfortunate few who need medical care, but as it stands people with some conditions are effectively taxed more than healthy citizens or those who have a different illness.

I know people who would not be able to live at a reasonable standard without their medication, but who have to pay the fees for it and will continue paying for the whole of their lives. Some of them would become more ill and a greater burden on the state if they were liable to pay for prescriptions and did not have the money spare to pay for it when required.

Effectively picking conditions exempt from charges out of a hat is ludicrous; it should be based on the length of time that someone suffers from a condition and requires a particular type of medication, not upon whether the condition is on a list.

A_fiend_for_life

Thats poor the government are taking so long even to get things moving though.

Devolution is certainly showing that certain barriers are not as big as they were supposed to be. Free prescriptions in Wales so whats holding things up??

Lucifa73

Makes you wonder what else should be on the list and isn't...

Given the advances in medical science in the last 40 years the list is defnitely ripe for review and, in my opinion, anything of this nature should be subject to periodical reviews and not left to moulder until soeone decides to champion a cause.

ftbBeccy

I agree that the system needs a major overhaul. I can't belive that there hasn't been a change for 40 years given the speed at which medicine has changed over the same

As a diabetic I get all my prescriptions free (thank god as I take lots of medication!!) but have never understood why it should be ALL of them. Surely it should only be medication related to the condition or directly affected by it that should be covered? For example, I have a friend who takes medication for their thyroid that gets free hayfever tablets - they have nothing to do with it so why should they be free?? :mad:

They extra money coming in from all the people currently enjoying this over generosity would then offset the cost of adding more conditions to the list. There are no doubt other conditions like CF that deserve to be included.


Oh and for all the people thinking how wonderful it would be to be Welsh and have all prescriptions free - there are other aspects of healthcare that need to be taken into consideration - take a look at the length of their waiting lists compared to England:eek:

calleyw

ftbBeccy wrote: »

As a diabetic I get all my prescriptions free (thank god as I take lots of medication!!) but have never understood why it should be ALL of them. Surely it should only be medication related to the condition or directly affected by it that should be covered? For example, I have a friend who takes medication for their thyroid that gets free hayfever tablets - they have nothing to do with it so why should they be free?? :mad:

Funny I was only talking about the other day.

My husband has a life threatening illness that nearly to killed him 2006. He is now on drugs that basically keep him alive. If he stopped taking two of them he would probably die or would want to with the pain he would be in.

But because he is only on IB and DLA he has to pay. We get a prepaid thingy.

But hey such is life. Just got to get on with it.

Yours


Calley

emilyt

Fuchsia_a wrote: »

Prescription charges for chronic conditions when other chronic conditions are exempt from charging is grossly unfair. I always thought the point of the NHS was to tax everyone to assist the unfortunate few who need medical care, but as it stands people with some conditions are effectively taxed more than healthy citizens or those who have a different illness.

I know people who would not be able to live at a reasonable standard without their medication, but who have to pay the fees for it and will continue paying for the whole of their lives. Some of them would become more ill and a greater burden on the state if they were liable to pay for prescriptions and did not have the money spare to pay for it when required.

Effectively picking conditions exempt from charges out of a hat is ludicrous; it should be based on the length of time that someone suffers from a condition and requires a particular type of medication, not upon whether the condition is on a list.

I agree with you entirely.
My husband and daughter suffer from chronic asthma and if they didn't take their inhalers and steroid tablets they would not be alive. The system is so unfair.

hardpressed

The list certainly needs revising. I have every sympathy with people who need life long medication but why should somebody taking thyroxine get all their medication free when another patients with cancer, heart or kidney problems have to pay. It's most unfair.

SmileyMiley_2

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bunking_off

It is daft. Both I and my wife are diabetics. I've managed to control mine via diet, but still have to take sufficient stuff that I rattle when I jump, to head off the consequences (ace inhibitors to keep blood pressure low (I've only the 1 kidney), asprin, statins, anti-inflammatories etc). My wife has a similar cocktail of tablets, but also has her diabetes controlled by tablets. Because her tablets are controlling her diabetes, she's exempt from prescription charges. Because mine deal with consequences only, I'm not (season ticket's the only sensible way).

For me, it's a minor irritation. For the CF situation, it's a bloody outrage.