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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why some life saving medications are free and others aren't

247 replies

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 02/04/2018 16:11

Why on earth are inhalers and asthma medications not yet free on prescription but type 2 diabetics (lifestyle induced) get all of their medications for free?

This has been slowly getting to me as the years have gone on and I have a teen with asthma who, no matter how well controlled it is in the year, always ends up on steroids multiple times in the winter. I know they don't have to pay now but this is likely to be an issue as an adult for them and they will then have to pay, why? Why can type 2 diabetics not just get their diabetes medications free but ALL their medications but asthmatics can't even get essential life saving medications free?

AIBU to feel the rage on this?

OP posts:
mirime · 03/04/2018 14:35

@Dungeondragon15 never happened when he had a three month supply. I think there must be a window where you can't order and it's probably within about two weeks or something similar - so you can't order a week early on a monthly supply because that would be about two weeks after your last repeat, while with three months supply a week early with be two and a half months after your last repeat.

Either that or if they're willing to give you three months at once they're generally more flexible.

Dungeondragon15 · 03/04/2018 14:35

because they religiously stick to the only providing one month at a time thing. It's annoying and pointless!

It's not pointless if it reduces waste. He should just ask his GP if the number of tablets on each prescription can be increased to take into account the fact that sometimes he needs to take extra.

Dungeondragon15 · 03/04/2018 14:37

Either that or if they're willing to give you three months at once they're generally more flexible.

It was probably just the fact that they used to be more "flexible" before there was a drive to reduce waste.

Itscurtainsforyou · 03/04/2018 14:42

Whilst I agree that there should be a review of the list of conditions that qualify for free prescriptions, people judging those with t2 as being "lifestyle" illnesses can all fuck off (as explained by previous posters).

LeighaJ · 03/04/2018 14:54

My FIL eats healthy, exercises regularly, and has never been overweight his whole life and developed type 2 diabetes.

That being said it is weird that some life saving medications are free for some people and some aren't.

I don't think any should be free except birth control Grin or if the person is on very low income.

maggie222 · 03/04/2018 15:38

I am on a huge amount of anti-rejection meds from my kidney transplant plus many more meds to counteract the awful side affects. I take between 40-50 tablets daily plus IV meds. If I don't take them my kidney transplant fails and I need another transplant costing ££££.

I don't get free prescriptions as my partner works so I buy a pre payment certificate. I am very grateful to the NHS for the treatment I have had. I do however wonder how some people manage if they cannot afford the prepayment certificate (I know it's not a huge amount but could be for some) and cannot get their meds for such a critical medication.

snash12 · 03/04/2018 16:04

Why don't we all just take a bit of fucking responsibility for ourselves?? Why do some people the government should pay for everything?

Yes some illnesses are brought on by lifestyle and some aren't, just deal with your own problems.

Buy a £10.40 a month pre-paid prescription certificate.

You have no idea what is going on in others peoples lives.

Some people could assume your child has asthma because you smoked whilst pregnant! Whether that's true or not, it's an assumption some could make - and then it was your lifestyle choice.

noeffingidea · 03/04/2018 16:18

I agree that everyone over 18 should have the prepayment certificate, with help available for extreme cases where people can't pay that amount. No free scripts for any condition. I do see the OP's point, there are a lot of chronic conditions that can be equally, or more, serious as diabetes.

jmh740 · 03/04/2018 16:20

It makes me cross when people think all t2 is lifestyle based. I developed gestational diabetes 23 years ago. Both my grandmother's and my father had t2 I was diagnosed in 2005. Last week I had flu it totally floored me I needed 2 lots of anti biotics and then developed thrush which often happens if I'm run down. I have had medication for an in growing toe nail which was probably not helped by my diabetes. How do I know which conditions relate to my t2 and which don't?

My husband has MS and a heart condition he has a medical exemption card which the go told him to apply for he takes about 10 different medications every day one of his meditations cost more each month than he earns and he earns more than an average wage. I'm terrified of the state of the nhs if he had to pay for his medications we would never be able to afford them and the alternative is that he would die leaving me with 2 young children to raise.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 03/04/2018 16:27

So Oldsu because DS1 has a medex card for diabetes, he also gets his CF medication free? That's good, but doesn't right the wrong of most CF patients having to pay. Sad

Downtheroadfirstonleft · 03/04/2018 16:27

If people can afford to pay their prescriptions, they should, whatever their condition.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 03/04/2018 16:39

Very true. DS1's too ill to work. He barely leaves the house.

MoreHairyThanScary · 03/04/2018 18:01

I think what gets me more is my parent with hypothyroidism ( single medication thyroxine to treat) gets free prescriptions but my daughter with a life limiting condition and mulled medications each month will have to pay- actually she won't as she was ' lucky' enough to develop diabetes as part of her condition so now it will be free

lougle · 03/04/2018 20:22

"MereDintofPandiculation

IvorHughJars round here everyone is being encouraged to let the pharmacy sort the prescriptions, the pharmacy just automatically gets the whole lot."

Our pharmacy manages prescriptions. They specifically ask you to tick the drugs you'd like for the following month, then only order those ones. It's not difficult.

You also can't pay for a prepayment certificate if you are already entitled to an exemption certificate. Or at least, that's the case if you are entitled to a Tax Credits exemption certificate. I had one, our income increased (a little) I worked out we would nolonger be entitled, so I applied for a prepayment certificate. I was rejected. When I phoned them, they said I had to use the current certificate until the end of March that year, despite now earning slightly more, because once issued it was valid for the whole year and couldn't be cancelled, and I couldn't have a prepayment certificate at the same time as an NHS one Confused

lougle · 03/04/2018 20:23

*Tax credit one

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 03/04/2018 20:44

MoreHairy same with DS1.

phlebasconsidered · 03/04/2018 21:05

I get that people get ragey because of free thyroid drugs. Usually because they have a relative who has a mild form due to age and they seem fine.

My thyroid went kaput at 18. It took 10 years to stabilize. At one point i was near comatose. Without the medication I'm on I can't work or even remember what happened yesterday. I'm also more likely to have a severe asthma attack, heart attack or stroke.

I'm happy to pay my prescription costs at the moment as I'm employed but I do point out that I'm a bargain: twenty years teaching and working is worth it for the NHS to save costs. I cost them a bloody fortune unmedicated; huge hospital stays, heart monitoring, mental health issues, and constant asthma and fits. My chance of Alzheimer's is almost doubled unmediated. I also had psychotic episodes.

I know there are worse life threatening conditions but thyroid issues are hugely prevalent and so present a real chance to save cash. Imagine something like A tablet to stop obesity and that's the sort of scale. Almost every woman in my family has a history of thyroid disease. It used to be that you ended up in care and comatose for the rest of your life.

I'd like to see a savings account set up for people like me, so we can save up prescriptions and use a bank when and if we are not working or unable to pay. Or an opt out box, so I pay for penicillin etc. Many thyroid patients would do this.

Dungeondragon15 · 03/04/2018 21:21

Or an opt out box, so I pay for penicillin etc. Many thyroid patients would do this.

You don't need an opt out box. When they ask if you pay for prescriptions just say "yes" and pay...

YourWanMajella · 03/04/2018 21:42

quid fI think its a bit much to complain about paying when you don't actually pay for your medications at all.
You pay a tiny fraction of the actual cost. Try paying 90 quid for one steroid inhaler Hmm

phlebasconsidered · 03/04/2018 21:47

I do pay for other medication but an opt out box would show that, so give a good indication of what money they could save if they introduced it and publicised it.

Welliejellie · 03/04/2018 22:03

I take thyroxin and I was suprised when it was free, I was even more suprised it means I get all! My prescription free! Which I think is silly really. I can understand the thyroxin being free but why everything!

Although to be fair I don't get any other medication very often.

Welliejellie · 03/04/2018 22:07

And before anyone jumps on me and says I can still pay if I want too for other medicines. I did try too but the pharmacy said I was registers as free prescription so why on earth would I pay! When I said about the NHS being in crisis he said well you paying for 1 prescription isn't going to stop that!

mirime · 03/04/2018 22:11

@Dungeondragon15 it's pointless for DH. He never wasted his, they're keeping him alive. It actually does the opposite and risks leaving him short sometimes, especially over holidays.

And they won't give him more than 28 at a time. We've tried. Repeatedly. Nothing has changed except how much they're enforcing the one month limit which really should have exceptions for those with chronic conditions whose medication is unlikely to change. He has to have yearly reviews as well which is a ridiculous waste of the GPs time as only his consultant can change his meds, his GP has no say in it at all.

MereDintofPandiculation · 03/04/2018 22:13

Many CCGs are now instructing GPs not to accept any orders from pharmacies because of the waste and suspected fraud that has built up since this started. Yes, I had a feeling things were changing. I've always ordered direct from GP because of the difficulty family members were having in avoiding stockpiling when the pharmacy just ordered the whole lot once a month, but having taken over DPs prescription ordering, comments from the pharmacist suggested things might be changing.

AlonsosLeftPinky · 03/04/2018 22:29

I'd do away with all exemptions then everyone is on the same level playing field.