Free Prescriptions in England

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Category: General

Created on Thursday, 12 February 2009 18:37

Published on Thursday, 12 February 2009 18:32

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All prescriptions are free in Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland will abolish prescription charges soon. Cancer patients from April 1st, people under 19 and over 60 and those suffering from a list of illnesses which probably seemed sensible in 1968 don't have to pay. But there is plenty of evidence that many poor people do not take medication, or sometimes take medical advice, because of cost. The system we are left with in England is a dog's dinner. Gordon Brown is the first politician to make improvements to it for the last 40 years.

Professor Ian Gilmore is leading a review of Prescription Charges with a view to extending free prescriptions to more people with long term conditions. www.dh.gov.uk/prescriptionchargesreview

The closing date for the web survey and for written submissions is 27 February 2009. Please respond. But we do not think the way forward is for a list of deserving and undeserving illnesses. We think the time has come to abolish prescription charges in England.The principle that healthcare should be free at the point of delivery is a very sound one, and Governments repeatedly pledge their support to it. But for many poor people these pledges are not reflected in their experience.

www.dh.gov.uk/prescriptionchargesreview
The closing date for the web survey and for written submissions is 27 February 2009. Please respond. But we do not think the way forward is for a list of deserving and undeserving illnesses. We think the time has come to abolish prescription charges in England.The principle that healthcare should be free at the point of delivery is a very sound one, and Governments repeatedly pledge their support to it. But for many poor people these pledges are not reflected in their experience.

If we cannot do that straight away maybe we could enlarge the list of benefits which entitle the recipient to free prescriptions to include Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance? At present anyone whose weekly income is more than £3.65 above the Income Support poverty
line has to pay the full cost. For single people under 25 - £51.60; 25 or over - £64.15. That means that many people on Incapacity Benefit long-term basic rate - £84.50 - have to pay in full.

Come to our seminar at the London Canal Museum New Wharf Road London N1 9RT Monday 23rd March with
Liz Phelps Citizens Advice
Dr Brian Fisher, Chair of the Socialist Health Association
Barney Gough, Social Market Foundation
Dr Doug Naysmith MP House of Commons Health Committee
Eileen Neilson Head of Policy Development Royal Pharmaceutical Society
of Great Britain
Cost (includes lunch): Statutory and commercial organisations £80,
Voluntary organisations £40, Socialist Health Association members £15 (includes members of affiliated organisations us.such as Unite and Unison who represent their union or pay their own way). Unfunded organisations and individuals please contact us.
Please use our booking form

http://www.sochealth.co.uk/confs/Booking.php

As well as doing the web survey please:
* Make a donation to the cost of our campaign
* Write to your local papers or your organisation
* Find stories for our campaign - maybe you know someone who can't afford to pay their prescription charges? Or someone who was admitted to hospital because they didn't take their medication?
* Write to your MP
* Raise this issue in your Trades Union or Labour Party
Fibromyalgia sufferers are often on numerous prescriptions for their many symptoms and unless they have other qualifying conditions are burdened with payments.