AIBU to think people who condemned Tories for being heartless shouldn't then demand means testing for children's medicine.

[captainproton]

A family member wrote a pretty nasty Facebook post calling Tory voters heartless scum for not voting Labour. I didn't vote Tory btw but some other family members did. Then in the wake of the Fails article on free calpol at Boots for all kids, we all get treated to halo polishing posts about how such a scheme is ruining the NHS and that they buy all their own Calpol and those that don't and can afford it and other medicines are basically ripping off taxpayers. Even after the scheme was properly explained along with the fact all kids get free prescriptions they continued to say that parents should buy their children's medicine with a charge like adults and not claim it free on the NHS. I am starting to take all this Facebook crap personally, I got prescription painkillers for my dd to help her post surgery, we don't get CB but we aren't rolling in it. I accepted the free medicine. Now I can totally get why someone may have the view that the luxury of free childrens medicine should not be applicable to us. I would however assume you'd be happy with a Tory government. I am so tempted to call her a hypocrite, but is she and AIBU?

But she's not, is she? She's talking about nonessential medication and items available over the counter or often in supermarkets and pound shops, for very little money. She's not saying parents should have to pay for their kids asthma pumps and other lifesaving or essential medications only available from with a doctors prescription.

initially yes, then I explained that is not what the scheme was about, and she was getting in a froth about nothing. That children get free prescriptions and she said that she didn't agree with that, unless you truly could not afford it. But you do know that there are other medicines in this world other than Calpol and Neurofen. Also like my DD had to have painkillers for a long time post surgery, they were prescribed to her, I have never to this day been prescribed painkillers by a GP just because my child has a cold or something. That is what I don't understand. Bringing in prescription charges for children, is that not a right wing thing?

It's not an any wing thing it's a your relative thing because no party has suggested it only your relative.

I completely agree with you.

I did vote Conservative and I think the Boots scheme should be canned asap except for medical card holders. Children's prescription medicine should be foc. Adults are means tested which is fair.

You can only access the MAS if you are entitled to free prescriptions as an adult anyway. so what you are saying you want to happen, is what is happening. It also saves waiting times at GP surgeries.

No party has suggested scrapping the NHS or on the other hand bringing in free medication for all in England, but I would naturally assume one to be a right wing thought and the other to be a left wing thought.

I think want you don't understand OP, is essentially the difference between The classifications of OTC (over the counter) POM (pharmacy only medication) and PO (prescription only) medication.

Suggesting that people should pay for their own OTC medication is not the same as advocating prescription charges.

You seem a bit agitated OP, I'd suggest stepping away from FB for a while.

This has been pissing me off and there was a thread about it a couple of months ago.

The goverment are trying to dismantel the NHS. It was put in place to serve ALL people. Not just the poor or the rich.

Good banks are appearing every where and people are fucking arguing over CAPOL. Which by the way is the only one which can be used for two month olds.

It's not people getting their children medication thats ruining the NHS it's the government.

I hope ever fucker that says children's Prescription should me means tested donates the prescription fee every time their kids have had one

captain they are already selling chunks of it. A £780 MILLION deal has already happened to 11 private firms. It's just that people are to busy bitching over fucking calpol

I get the difference thanks, but you don't seem to get it either, and I feel like I am hitting my head against a brick wall. Relative wants to introduce prescription charges for children's PO (prescription only) medication. she has wound up a lot of folk with her previous comments which have really made me bite my tongue. But now I don't understand her POV. I just don't and it seems I am in the minority and I just don't know whether I like what I hear anymore.

Tequilla, I didn't know that, and I can't see how someone who ranted about Tory scum for wrecking the NHS can now come out with this latest gem. I find her hypocritical and I despair, is this what most people think?

No it's not. It's just what a certain demographic think. It's not a true reflection of what is happening in society.

Sorry - I've clearly missed part of the debate as I dont know what the MAS is.

No party has suggested scrapping the NHS or on the other hand bringing in free medication for all in England, but I would naturally assume one to be a right wing thought and the other to be a left wing thought.
I think this is the key problem - that assumption. There seems to be a HUGE assumption that anyone who votes Tory wants to abolish the NHS which is ludicrous.

I think it's a finite resource [and should be for some things], and the key party difference is that the Tories are trying to address that and that Labour don't want to admit it.
I want it to be used in a timely way by the people who need it most and funded in a fair way. I don't think that grown adults without pre-existing conditions should be able to rock up for a free 15 mins for every cold and sniffle they have. Charge them £25 [it's €50 in Ireland] and watch them wait a few days.

I think that doctors salaries are actually far too low within the NHS and have not kept pace with the wider market. Why the hell would you do all that training, take on so much risk, long hours and antisocial hours too, and then be a middle income earner ffs.
I think that there is too much emphasis on admin, customer service focus and not enough on compensating the front line staff.

Mostly as someone who grew up with a different healthcare system I think that British people don't know that they are born with the NHS. It is underappreciated and taken for granted. It also employs 1.4 million people
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/not-sure/ and three years ago was measured at the 4th largest employer in the world....
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_employers

so I think there is probably plenty of room for the dreaded "outsourcing" without the whole kit and caboodle imploding.

So why do people vote Tory is they don't want the NHS dismantled ? They are already doing it!

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams - Minor Ailments Service, the ability for eligible parents to get free over-the-counter medication from the pharmacy rather than going to the GP and clogging up appointments because they are too poor to afford to buy it for their children. People want it scrapped, then there are others who want all medicines whether over-the-counter or prescription only to incur a charge whether it's for an adult or a child.

But I am not sure if to think the latter is a bit more right wing than left. My gut instinct was to think of my relative, "are you sure you didn't vote Tory."

I don't see why you think her view would wreck the nhs though? Not that I agree with her at all but; she wants the nhs saving and acknowledges that it is in trouble. Surely means testing free prescriptions for children is one possible way to inject some funds? Not my way certainly but a way. She's not contradicting herself imo just suggesting a partial solution that you don't agree with.

How about we stop looking at children paying for prescriptions to 'save' the NHS and actually expect the millionaire tax dodgers in the country to stump up what the actually owe so we can use it for what it's needed for

I have no problem with the scheme provided families cannot get endless supplies of generic calpol. The lloyds pharmacy version of calpol or ibroprofen is a fraction of the price and just as effective. I feel that a bottle of infant paracentanol or infant ibroprofen should last at least 3 months.

I would like health visitors to have prescribing powers for ezcema emoliants and mild steriods to any child. I feel that there may be other annoying conditions that could be managed more effectively by nurses.

A GP appointment costs the nhs around £25. You can get a lot of bottles of medicine for that. Its really nothing to frothe about. I feel that one solution would be to put a cap on the value of medication such a scheme to provide a family. I would worrry about a child who is being given ibroprofen/ paracentanol every night or is constantly needing deworming. Maybe a financial cap of £50 per family per year and the scheme would still save money.

www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/ibuprofen-100mg-5ml-from-3-months-strawberry-flavour-150ml-17486

I don't think your relative's position is inconsistent. It's entirely possible to be strongly in favour of welfare state safety net provision for those who need it but denying benefits to those who don't - eg by means testing child benefit, prescriptions, infants' school meals, pensioner bus passes and winter fuel allowances etc.

Broadly left wing people can legitimately argue that it's better not to give these things to millionaires and save the money for those who really need it. Other left wing people can legitimately argue the opposite case for very good but more subtle broader political reasons.

It's the difference between "You shouldn't have children if you can't afford to keep them!" and "If you can afford to pay for your children's shoes/meals/prescriptions then you should". The former is totally incompatible with "Tory Bastards out!" but the latter is not.

I think guilting people about using the service is wrong and more likely to affect those who actually need to us it.

Posting statuses about bad Tory voters and bad people using nhs resources seems consistent though. Your relative could just be pro wealth distribution rather than socialist.

This is the second post today where I've seen someone bashing nhs admin. Seriously, who do you want booking appointments, sending letters, filing notes etc?

Minor Ailments Service, the ability for eligible parents to get free over-the-counter medication from the pharmacy rather than going to the GP and clogging up appointments because they are too poor to afford to buy it for their children

Please get your facts right, it's not for people who are 'too poor', it's for anyone who is prescription exempt or who has a pre-paid card.

From the NHS choices website,
"Minor ailment services
Some pharmacies run a minor ailment scheme, which means they can supply medicines for certain conditions on the NHS.
If your pharmacy runs a minor ailment scheme that includes eczema, for example, it means your pharmacist can supply medicines for this condition and you'll only pay the standard prescription charge.
If you're exempt from paying prescription charges – because you're under 16 or over 60, for example, or you have a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) – you won't pay for the medicine. Just ask at your local pharmacy"