I shouldn't be getting free prescriptions

[ssd]

because I live in Scotland

I work, so does dh

we have a combined income of £25k

we don't need a regular prescription every week

where I pick up my prescriptions, people I know who are lawyers, accountants, business owners all pick them up free, its across the board and not means tested

its all wrong, when people in England pay over £8 for theirs

it should be means tested, that and the winter fuel allowance , probably loads more I cant think of just now

[ssd]

the biggest one is uni fees

the government are to blame, the English should be up in arms

[cleaty]

GP care is not means tested either. It is part of your free at access point health care.

I am in England and before I was entitled to free prescriptions, I didn't always fill them at it was too expensive.

[ssd]

but GP care is free all over, not just Scotland

[SmellySourdough]

I think everyone should pay for prescriptions and then claim back under a 'hardship' rule.
I also think the cost of meds should be printed on the pack/dispensing sticker to show how much the meds actually cost.

[SetPhasersTaeMalkie]

Yes the UK government is to blame but they were voted for by the English so they have the government they voted for and clearly want.

[Dontneedausername]

Don't get me started on the Minor Ailments scheme!

[dannydyerismydad]

YANBU. The system is a mess.

In England the exempt list makes very little sense. I get free prescriptions for children and the elderly even though DM thinks it's not a waste of time or money for her to rock up at the GP demanding prescriptions for hay fever remedies every summer

Transplant patients have to pay prescription fees on the anti rejection drugs. DH has to pay prescription charges for half of his heart medication. The other half is couriered direct to our house for free.

The whole system needs a fair overhaul.

[fascicle]

I think I've read before that 80-90% of prescriptions are free. The system needs reviewing.

[BayLeaves]

If you pay national insurance, they're not exactly "free"... I pay hundreds in NI each year and I don't think I should then pay extra for prescriptions...

[KidLorneRoll]

I don't see why free at point of use healthcare shouldn't include prescriptions, drugs to make you better are as important as the initial free diagnosis. Means testing is inefficient and costly. The question should be why should people in England pay for their drugs.

[whatevva]

I get to pay double for my HRT (as does anyone who has two different pill preparations in th same packet). Unfortunately it is only worth buying a prepayment card if I over order.

[BarbaraofSeville]

It's often cheaper to make it free for everyone than to means test. But then you have the issue that some people don't value what is free and not bother to use all the medication that they are prescribed or otherwise expect things that can be bought cheaply from supermarkets etc like savlon and ibuprofen on prescription.

In England 80%+ of prescriptions are free, for children, pensioners, people on certain benefits, contraception for everyone and for people with certain chronic conditons.

Of the few remaining prescriptions no-one needs to pay more than about £10 per month because you can buy a prepayment card that gives unlimited prescriptions.

Unless you are certain that you will only need one or two prescriptions within a few months, you should ask for an official NHS receipt, because then it is possible to reclaim the money if you decide to take the card out within the next month.

But maybe they should make prescriptions free for everyone everywhere, but put more emphasis on people not wasting things or expecting basic painkillers on prescription to save a few pence when it costs so much more to supply on prescription.

[Ginmakesitallok]

Yes it's the Scottish government's fault that nhs scotland provides more than nhs England BAD scottish government!!! Maybe you should be concentrating on why the English system is falling apart more quickly.

[cleaty]

80% of prescriptions are free because it is mainly the old and those with certain health conditions, who get medication on prescription. Lots and lots of people are not entitled to free prescriptions.

As for the idea of paying and claiming back. I get 4 medicines every month, and sometimes more. £40 is a lot to spend upfront.

[BarbaraofSeville]

If your medication is regulat cleaty you can pay monthly by direct debit. No need to pay out £40 a time.

[BreconBeBuggered]

They're also free in Wales.

I have to say that, the last time I was able to directly compare cross-border NHS services that, parking charges aside, the English seemed to be getting by far the better deal. When I moved to England I was immediately prescribed drugs I couldn't get in Scotland. I don't mind paying for prescriptions if patient treatment is better overall. That was pre-2015, however.

[SunnyScot89]

It has been calculated that to means test everyone would cost more than giving everyone free prescriptions.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Pre-payment certificates should be advertised much more widely.

Painkillers - its difficult if you are on the maximum dose each day, simply because for many it is challenging to pick up the required number, due to the restriction in number of tablets you can buy in any one transaction. It's a real issue for those in chronic pain.

Don't get me started on uni fees....

[BombadierFritz]

Vote tory then

[cleaty]

I get free prescriptions. Why would I want to pay regularly by direct debit?

And you do know there are plenty of people who do not have a bank account?

[bushtailadventures]

I have a pre-payment card for my prescriptions because I'm asthmatic and asthma medication isn't on the exempt list. If I was paying for my scripts it would cost me around £40 a month and I just couldn't afford it. I don't really understand why some life saving drugs are exempt and others not?

[BarbaraofSeville]

Pre-payment certificates should be advertised much more widely

There is a poster up about it in every pharmacist in the country. Also information on the NHS website.

I suppose the question would be, why do Scotland and Wales appear to be able to offer more to their citizens, such as free uni fees in Scotland, precriptions, car parking at hospitals etc? Are they more effecient? Do they have more money in the first place?

Or are they missing out on something else that we have in England instead, but are too busy moaning about hospital car parking and prescription charges to notice.

[cleaty]

5% of people do not have a bank account. 11% if you don't count the Post Office card as a bank account. Many people are not able to do direct debits monthly to get a pre payment certificate.

[PaulAnkaTheDog]

The issue with them being means tested is the administration costs etc. I'm pretty sure it works out more expensive.

[RhodaBull]

There is a terrible amount of waste.

When I cleared out the pil's house, you can't imagine the volume of drugs I returned to chemists. They were everywhere , and every cupboard I opened, be it in bedrooms, kitchen, sitting room, were full of unopened packets. I had to go round various chemists taking two carrier bags at a time to each one. Even the chemists were shocked at two bags at a time. They didn't see the other 20 in my boot!

When mil went into a nursing home she had a full health assessment. It was found that she was in perfect health (apart from severe dementia) and that she needed no medication at all. What the hell was the GP doing in prescribing all those useless drugs that she didn't even take?

If this is going on countrywide the cost must be astronomical.