Payment for prescriptions

By 'discussions' in that post I meant the government leaks, not chats on places like this .

I’m sure there are no plans at present to introduce either prescription charges for the over sixties or hospital ‘board’ plans. As I said in the original post (I started the thread) a certain Professor Stephen Smith made these suggestions. He was an NHS chairman in Kent I think. These are his ideas and there are no suggestions that this government, or any political party are planning to bring in these charges. I thought I should make that clear before everyone starts to stockpile medications. I started the thread as a point for discussion, not as scaremongering.

I think all prescriptions should be free. My reasoning is that medications are just as much part of the treatment process as visiting a doctor, having a diagnostic test or an operation or other procedure - and we don't charge for those - yet!

Of course, that would mean that reviews would have to be done efficiently. I must admit that mine are. I get a text when a review is due and the GP stops prescribing if the review is more than two months overdue. I guess if I really wanted to stockpile, I could lie, but why would I? Maybe it would be more valuable to target expensive drugs rather than finding out if people still need paracetamol or one of the cheap generic drugs.

maddyone

I’m sure there are no plans at present to introduce either prescription charges for the over sixties or hospital ‘board’ plans. As I said in the original post (I started the thread) a certain Professor Stephen Smith made these suggestions. He was an NHS chairman in Kent I think. These are his ideas and there are no suggestions that this government, or any political party are planning to bring in these charges. I thought I should make that clear before everyone starts to stockpile medications. I started the thread as a point for discussion, not as scaremongering.

I'm not so sure.

I didn't think you were doing that, maddyone, which is why I posted the addendum.

Every now and then we get a 'leak' that the government is considering charges though, and it crossed my mind that a side effect of that may be that people get in as many supplies as possible, just in case.

I’m not so sure.

Well of course growstuff we don’t know what the future will bring. Next year, or in the next decade, we don’t know what any government will decide to do. I meant that it was not suggested in the article that this is in any way future policy. As far as I understand it, these are the thoughts of Professor Stephen Smith.

You are right Doodledog about leaks, but I didn’t get any impression that this was a leak, rather that it is the opinion of one man. I just didn’t want anyone be be so scared by my thread that they rush out and stockpile their medicines. I can’t anyway, my GP Practice only allows you to reorder after a certain date, so I can’t stockpile. I’d quite like to actually, in order that I have enough of everything for our two month trip to New Zealand later this year.

Humbertbear

Kittylester - Did you say only £105? My mother only has a State Pension on which to survive. DS and I are both retired. I know who would have to pay the £105. And what about the pensioners - or other people not flush with money - who have no relatives to help them?

I was referring to someone who said that IF they had to pay, it would cost £72 pm. With a prepayment pass it would only be £108. As would WWM2's husband's prescription.

It wasn't a leak Doodle it was an article written by Stephen Smith which appeared in the Times at the weekend and then, possibly, in The Mail.

Doodledog

I wonder of the constant 'discussions' about whether to charge for prescriptions is responsible for any of the stockpiling?

I take three inhalers, and they each last a month. I have until recently also been on two lots of thyroid medication, so that would be around £50 a month without a pre-pay certificate. I'd rather exclude those from the discussion, as a lot of people would find paying £100+ upfront impossible, and there is almost a guarantee that they would rise in price quickly if we allowed the principle of 'free at the point of need' to be eroded.

A lot of older people take medication for blood pressure too, as well as statins and so on, so we can see how expensive it would be to pay for that on top of existing conditions like mine. Many people would have to start rationing their medication and missing some off the prescription.

We already pay ££££ for dentistry - I have just been given a treatment plan that will cost £3000 for remedial treatment (ie not cosmetic) - and with that in the mix even poor old Mick Jagger, who always gets a mention in discussions about means testing, might feel the pinch. It would be understandable if people started to think about getting as many drugs in as possible ahead of any detrimental changes, so that they have a bit of 'wriggle room' and can spread the cost of their treatment a bit if they do start to be charged for.

This. Makes so much sense.

It wasn't a leak Doodle it was an article written by Stephen Smith which appeared in the Times at the weekend and then, possibly, in The Mail.

Yes, I know. As I said, I was talking in general (this idea does come up every now and then) not about the incident that sparked this thread.

Teacheranne

Whitewavemark2

Do you have to pay for each drug or per prescription?

Since DH retired he has suffered heart problems and has about 6 (I think) pills a day.

That would be a huge cost for the poorer pensioner. If it is per prescription.

And if people are forced to make a choice, that must make it well nigh impossible for the doctor, and cost far more in the long run I would have thought.

You pay per item on the prescription so four types of medications is four prescription charges.

Bloody hell. So in my DHs case it’s 6 lots plus a spray when it runs out of date.

Ask any doctor, people are going to die.

I live in Sweden and we have always paid co-pay contributions for healthcare for the almost 30 years I have lived here. However the contributions are limited by the so called "high cost protection" which limits the amount you pay to about £95 per year for medical appointments and £190 for medicines.

For prescriptions you pay full cost for a certain proportion then gradually with subsidy increases until you hit the maximum when you are issued with a free-card for the remaining portion of the 12 months. The same works for appointments. You can also opt to pay monthly.

Personally as a disability pensioner it is factored into the Swedish version of disability living allowance that I receive.

The costs for healthcare try to help steer people away from turning up at A&E, out of hours with minor complaints. The current costs in my region are:
GP in-person appointment - £15
Specialist appointment or A&E - £30
A&E outside 8am to 5pm - £32
Other medical practitioner (nurse, physio, dietician, occupational therapist, psychologist etc) £10
Telephone appointments for doctor follow up - £8

Whitewave this is not a leak, it’s an article written by Stephen Smith, who used to be the chairman of an NHS trust. It’s merely his idea of possible things to do. It is not government policy. So no, people are not going to die for lack of medicines because nothing is going to change. This is what I feared would happen, posters will misunderstand and panic.

Oh thanks - there I was panicking

Step by step

Oh I have just read that dental checkups will now be only once every 2 years for those fortunate enough to have an nhs dentist.

That isn't completely true, Wwm2. That is for people who are judged to have healthy enough monuths but others will have them more often.

I am not supporting the Government's handling of NHS dentistry but what you said is untrue.

Whitewavemark2

Teacheranne

Whitewavemark2

Do you have to pay for each drug or per prescription?

Since DH retired he has suffered heart problems and has about 6 (I think) pills a day.

That would be a huge cost for the poorer pensioner. If it is per prescription.

And if people are forced to make a choice, that must make it well nigh impossible for the doctor, and cost far more in the long run I would have thought.

You pay per item on the prescription so four types of medications is four prescription charges.

Bloody hell. So in my DHs case it’s 6 lots plus a spray when it runs out of date.

Ask any doctor, people are going to die.

As of this morning, I am taking twenty five different meds, all on prescription. Twenty two are repeats.
One is a hospital prescription, costing £1000 every four weeks.
In the last month I have had a visit to A&E, a surgical procedure yesterday, three telephone consultations with a GP, two face to face consultations with a GP and two telephone consultations with a rheumatology specialist nurse, oh and umpteen blood tests.

Thank goodness, I live in Scotland or I would be bankrupt! .

kittylester

That isn't completely true, Wwm2. That is for people who are judged to have healthy enough monuths but others will have them more often.

I am not supporting the Government's handling of NHS dentistry but what you said is untrue.

That's how I read it too. I have an NHS dentist and have had six monthly check ups, but haven't had any dental work for five years. I had to go to the check ups because the dentist could have kicked me off his list. I was told earlier in the year that I'll only be having yearly check ups, but to contact them if I had any problems, which seems to make sense to me. It releases more time for those who really need treatment.

I am lucky enough to need no prescription drugs, but how would people who do cope?

maddyone

Whitewave this is not a leak, it’s an article written by Stephen Smith, who used to be the chairman of an NHS trust. It’s merely his idea of possible things to do. It is not government policy. So no, people are not going to die for lack of medicines because nothing is going to change. This is what I feared would happen, posters will misunderstand and panic.

Sorry - I did point out that I was talking about general leaks. Twice .

It does get mooted every so often. Either to distract people from other things, or to soften us up for if/when it does happen. There is often a lot of support on here for those that the supporters think 'don't need' to get free prescriptions.

I think we are probably safe for a while, but if the Tories win the next GE, all bets are off.

No, you wouldn't be bankrupt Matydoll. You could get an annual "season ticket" and one of your conditions might make you exempt anyway.

However, I belong to diabetes and cancer online groups. There are many American posters. It's really worrying that some of them don't have the tests or have the medications which would be routine in the UK because their insurance won't pay and they can't afford them.

Oh sorry. I’m currently in bed with flu having just recovered from covid. Day 4 but brain still addled

If I had to pay for prescriptions,GP and hospital visits I haven't the money to do that. What with energy prices going up again in October and the price in basic food stuffs how am I supposed to live.

I don't drink,smoke ,drive and my last holiday was 2005. I don't get my state pension for 2 years. Unfortunately my husband died 18 years ago. I haven't been able to work due illness until April this year I didn't have a diagnosis. I was born with it. Because I hadn't a name for what's wrong with me never been able to claim any benefits. Money my husband left is long gone and the money my mom left me will last until I get my state pension. Even though I have a name for what's wrong with me I have been refused any benefits but have appealed .

The last 34 years I was told not name no money now I have a name still no money. My husband paid lot of NI for 30 years before he died I will get 43p a week from his contributions.

All well and good saying we should pay for health care. But there are tens of thousands in my position. Are we going to be denied help because of we can't pay.

dear Whiff, it is so hard to navigate the DWP successfully.
did you have any help in applying or appealing.
if poss, it's best to get help from those who are used filling in those forms, eg age concern, CAB, disability rights groups.
i hope you get a good outcome eventually.

I am getting help from the Brain Charity . Thank you wellbeck.