To think NHS Prescriptions are extortionate

[Leobynature]

I am not sure what response I am looking for. Myself and 1 year old have been sick all week with flu. I have developed a chest infection and DD has had breathing problems. After a much appreciated GP visit I was pleased I was given a prescription for antibiotics, pain medication and an inhaler. I was advised to buy ibuprofen and paracetamol for DD as the ‘NHS do not give prescription for calpol’. I was absolutely astonished that this came to over £35! This is a lot from our budget. I don’t think I could afford to be sick again. I don’t know how some families with repeat prescriptions manage it. So annoyed as the pain medication is not even that strong and I could have just ‘overdosed’ on 49p over the counter medication. £9 per med is extortionate

If you knew the actual cost of some drugs then £9 is an absolute bargain!
That's not including the actually cost of running the pharmacy too.
If you still have the receipt get a pre payment certificate backdated to the prescription date, it might be a bit cheaper plus it covers you for any further prescriptions for 3 months.
Presuming you don't claim tax credits or any other benefits possibly making them free?

I’m in Scotland, thankfully we have free prescriptions but everyday items I think you should buy, too many folk abuse the NHS and don’t consider costs.

Cheaper than the actual drugs.

A relative needed to buy an inhaler without a prescription.... It was £50.

In America, my monthly medication (with insurance) cost so much that several times I had to choose rent over drugs that keep me alive. And the copay to see the GP would be £40 EACH. You better start saving if you think £35 for one temporary illness is bad.

Own brand Calpol is about £1.59 in Asda... why would you want an NHS prescription for that? It would cost the NHS about £36 just for the sodding Calpol.

People have no idea about what healthcare actually costs

People want paracetamol on prescription and then cry that the NHS is underfunded 🙄 God save us

My inhalers cost the NHS £60 each (preventer inhalers, one a month). £9 ain’t so bad.

Buy paracetamol ibuprofen yourself, it costs pennies.

My medication in America would be over $2500 per month. £9 is a bargain.

I don’t think it is that high

I have a couple of chronic conditions and have a pre payment certificate which caps the cost.

AFAIK considering the costs of the drugs, it’s a good deal.

I’m am not entitled to anything. I doubt any of the medication I brought was worth £9 tbh. Money is tight and finding this money was hard. I understand why it can’t be free for all.

apps.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc-online/patient.do

Make yourself aware of what you can actually buy over the counter, you'd be surprised. When you have a minor issue, check with a pharmacist before your GP, they can help with lots of minor problems and recommend over the counter meds. (Obviously, chest infection needed GP and the pharmacist would tell you that.) Buy the cheaper version of things, Calpol is Paracetamol Suspension and the pharmacist can give you a large bottle for cheaper than a small bottle of calpol, ditto with ibuprofen, antihistamines, etc. Pharmacists do a lot of medical training and do a hell of a lot more than count pills, they are medical professionals too. @swapsicles is right about pre-payment certificates and checking whether you're entitled to free prescriptions - the info is available online. The pharmacist or your GP surgery can give you the forms for pre-payment.

Wow you're being crazy, an inhaler is several hundred dollars in America. I despair

“ I doubt any of the medication I brought was worth £9 tbh”

You don’t think antibiotics and steroid inhalers are worth £9? Hmm.

What I don't understand is that all my meds are free for life because I have an underactive thyroid, but my sister struggles to pay for her prescription for asthma inhalers and frequently gets unwell without them. The exception rules make no sense.

Buy a prepayment certificate. Don’t get waste money getting nhs prescriptions for paracetamol and ibuprofen!! Should be £18 or so for inhaler and anti b’s.

Free in Wales, too. I saw a post last week about how someone was struggling to afford regular inhalers. Really hit home how lucky we are. Agree with you JKScot4 - there are plenty of things which should be bought. It's far too easily abused.

Sorry, that's the link for the pre-payment cert

Which anti biotic, pain med and inhaler - I'll check what they actually cost for you for a reality check if you like.

You're getting a bargain on the majority of the drugs you get. You could be in a free market where an inhaler alone would cost you £200.

People have no idea about what healthcare actually costs

This, absolutely.

I can totally understand that when money is tight it’s hard to find the cash for unexpected expenses like these, but unfortunately if the tories succeed in their mission to sell off the NHS you’re going to have to get used to paying a lot more than that OP.

In the USA you'd be paying a lot more (ie, for an inhaler could be $250-350 www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/us/the-soaring-cost-of-a-simple-breath.html).

You can buy an annual prepayment certificate (www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/save-money-with-a-prescription-prepayment-certificate-ppc/), DH gets one yearly as he has several daily medication.

If you are on certain benefits or very low income, you can get an exemption.

I live outside of the UK. My migraine meds are €32 for a pack of 6 tablets. I sometimes get through a pack a week. I can’t get hold of the more effective nasal spray as ‘there’s no demand because it’s €80’.

NHS prescription costs are reasonable. Don’t use prescriptions for OTC drugs.

Normally I agree about paracetamol however when my DH had major surgery, he had dihydrocodeine in a separate tablet to his paracetamol. He got through 8 paracetamols a day. And had a host of other painkillers!
since you can only but 16 at a time, I was at the pharmacy every other day, after working full time, plus unpaid overtime (NHS), plus looking after DH and DC.
It was then xmas day which was on a Thursday, so a 4 day bank holiday weekend. In the end, he got a GP prescription for 100 hundred tablets as it was just exhausting.