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AIBU?

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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:
PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 05/04/2018 13:28

Everyone madamginger? Even people who have to take a ridiculous number of medicines every month? That would still cost people like DS1 more than they can afford. He takes 8 different things every day.

SluttyButty · 05/04/2018 14:42

madamginger I get my biologic meds delivered direct to my front door, it's all arranged by the hospital pharmacy. The delivery companies now deliver two months worth so about 2k's worth of meds. I had mine changed by my consultant and told not to use anymore of one I was on a while ago. I had to put 1k's worth in the sharps bin because they wouldn't take it back. I felt beyond guilty but I can't change the two month delivery system, that's down to the delivery company and the ccg's to sort out the complete waste of extremely expensive drugs!

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 05/04/2018 14:51

Slutty DS1 has the same problem if his consultant changes his meds. He doesn't have to take fluclox anymore, so it all just goes to waste.

Dungeondragon15 · 05/04/2018 15:23

Two months seems ridiculous considering that the drugs delivered by home care companies (arranged by hospitals) are always v.expensive. Mine are delivered every month.

nordicflamingo · 05/04/2018 15:30

I had the opposite problem - 1k per injection but I could only get 5 at a time. To be taken daily. It was hellish, I was so unwell and it made life difficult as constantly had to reorder prescriptions.

Helspopje · 05/04/2018 15:51

Many of the points up thread are valid
The reality is, though, if they review the med exemptoons, then they won't add anything. They will just take conditions off the list or cancel the whole thing.

GrumpyPantz · 05/04/2018 16:24

Gluten free is not really expensive for people to buy nowadays... You also can live quite easily without any bread products in your diet.

What do you grab for a quick lunch if you can't have a sandwich or pasta? What do you eat for breakfast when cereal and porridge contain gluten? The Western diet is heavily based upon foods containing gluten - bread is a staple food and it's very difficult to avoid bread products completely. And gluten free bread is at least treble the price of ordinary bread, plus you also need to pay treble for special gluten free pasta, pizza, biscuits, cakes, pies, sauces, ingredients such as stock cubes and soy sauce, etc. It adds up to a huge amount of money, and if people are living on poverty wages or benefits then they often can't afford an extra couple of pounds for bread never mind all the rest.

My aunt gave up because it was too expensive and she figured by the time it killed her she'd be elderly anyway. But I feel sorry for kids with coeliac disease and poor parents who buy smart price food for the rest of the family and can't spend £3 on one tiny loaf of bread. If the NHS can't offer gluten free bread for everyone it should at least be offered to children and those on benefits.

YourWanMajella · 05/04/2018 16:27

What do you grab for a quick lunch if you can't have a sandwich or pasta? What do you eat for breakfast when cereal and porridge contain gluten?

You don't grab quick lunches much, but if you do you get soup or salad or rice and dahl or whatever gluten free food that is as available as pasta is! You eat other things for breakfast.

Your assertion that it was the NHS's fault your aunt ate normal bread which she thinks gave her cancer because they wouldn't buy her gluten free bread is ludicrous in the extreme.

Original poster
BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 05/04/2018 16:31

I take my own lunch into work or aim for soups or rice dishes or if I have time a jacket potato. Gluten free is really quite easy to manage these days.

OP posts:
Original poster
BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 05/04/2018 16:32

Sandwich shops do salad boxes - quick easy gluten free option right there

OP posts:
Original poster
BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 05/04/2018 16:33

Breakfast I have scrambled eggs or fruit and yoghurt or I buy a gluten free bread and have some toast or If my husband has time (I have other disabilities) he makes me a grilled breakfast with bacon, tomatoes, eggs mushrooms and gluten free sausages...

OP posts:
Original poster
BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 05/04/2018 16:35

Bean salads are nice, as are potato salads, last night's dinner reheated is always a winner...

Need me to go on?

OP posts:
Dungeondragon15 · 05/04/2018 16:52

What do you grab for a quick lunch if you can't have a sandwich or pasta?

I would have a baked potato.

What do you eat for breakfast when cereal and porridge contain gluten?

I generally have fruit and yoghurt. Alternatively gluten free porridge is reasonably priced (£3.20 for 10 breakfasts).

And gluten free bread is at least treble the price of ordinary bread, plus you also need to pay treble for special gluten free pasta, pizza, biscuits, cakes, pies, sauces, ingredients such as stock cubes and soy sauce, etc.

No way is it treble the price nowadays due to the fact that the market for gluten free products has risen considerably. It is about 50% more for gluten free versions and plenty of food doesn't contain gluten in the first place.

Dungeondragon15 · 05/04/2018 16:53

What do you grab for a quick lunch if you can't have a sandwich or pasta?

I would have a baked potato.

What do you eat for breakfast when cereal and porridge contain gluten?

I generally have fruit and yoghurt. Alternatively gluten free porridge is reasonably priced (£3.20 for 10 breakfasts).

And gluten free bread is at least treble the price of ordinary bread, plus you also need to pay treble for special gluten free pasta, pizza, biscuits, cakes, pies, sauces, ingredients such as stock cubes and soy sauce, etc.

No way is it treble the price nowadays due to the fact that the market for gluten free products has risen considerably. It is about 50% more for gluten free versions and plenty of food doesn't contain gluten in the first place.

GrumpyPantz · 05/04/2018 17:01

I buy Warburtons for 85p. According to Google, Genius bread is £2.50, so treble the price. It isn't healthy to be on an enforced Atkins diet eating salad and no carbs every day. I stand by my suggestion that children and people on benefits should be prescribed the basics they likely can't afford to buy. The costs of treating those who can't afford to comply with the gluten free diet will be higher in the long run.

Original poster
BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 05/04/2018 17:05

That's why you add rice or potatoes in. Cold new potatoes are lovely, beans and pulses are great, rice, Gluten free pasta...reheat last night's dinner... it really is very easy to go GF these days and not too different in price

OP posts:
Dungeondragon15 · 05/04/2018 17:13

I made my own bread when eating gluten free as the shop stuff was not nice.I didn't cost a lot. And obviously, potatoes and rice don't have gluten so I'm not sure why you think it would be an Atkins diet with no carbs.

ExFury · 05/04/2018 17:42

Genius is a brand name so of course it's much dearer.

Asda is £1.05 for abasic Warburtons loaf or £1.80 for a gluten free loaf. Its £1 for a 500g bag of gf pasta. It's a lot cheaper now than it was before.

ExFury · 05/04/2018 17:42

It's nowhere near treble costings now

Brian9600 · 05/04/2018 17:44

I’m entitled to all prescriptions free due to an auto-immune condition (thyroid). Seems bonkers to me- it should be means tested.

SaltySeaBird · 05/04/2018 17:51

Please educate yourself @BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot

www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/what-is-type-2-diabetes]What is Type 2 Diabetes

We don’t know exactly what causes Type 2 diabetes. But we do know that your family history, age and ethnic background affects your risk of developing it.

I developed type 2 diabetes with a normal BMI. I am generally fit (marathon runner). There is a strong family background to it.

Please don’t sweepingly state it is lifestyle induced, it isn’t always.

VikingVolva · 05/04/2018 18:26

It seems that the decision to exempt some illnesses and not others is completely arbitrary

It's not. The decision is very simple - long-term conditions which had a life saving treatment readily available when the list was created are exempt. Conditions that didn't, or weren't understood/diagnosed then don't

Exactly.

Cancer wasn't included until less than a decade ago - it took a huge amount of campaigning for something that really should have been a no-brainer (What's the point in giving expensive oral therapy, if the patient - whose income might well have been wrecked by the diagnosis - can't afford to get anti-emetics to go with it, or stays awake fretting because they cannot afford the sleeping pills, or the high strength painkiller? Or if they should have ABs at the slightest hint of infection, because if one took hold it could kill them?)

niccyb · 05/04/2018 18:43

Hi @shednik, I am aware of MODY and the difference in gene types as I work within the field of diabetes.

fridgepants · 05/04/2018 21:42

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request.

YourWanMajella · 05/04/2018 21:54

What's the point in giving expensive oral therapy, if the patient - whose income might well have been wrecked by the diagnosis - can't afford to get anti-emetics to go with it, or stays awake fretting because they cannot afford the sleeping pills, or the high strength painkiller? Or if they should have ABs at the slightest hint of infection, because if one took hold it could kill them?)

It's the UK, nobody has to buy their medications. They pay a script charge and there are various ways to keep that very low. Why are people pretending that anyone is being bankrupted or is unable to buy essential medications?

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