To think blanket free prescriptions for over 60s NEED to end?

[Idratherbepaddleboarding]

I know this will be controversial but I popped to the doctors in my lunch break to collect my prescription and joined a longish queue. Everyone in front of me was over 60 and collecting huge bags of medications and I was the only one paying for any of it.

I don’t dispute that I should have to pay but often I can’t afford it which has led to me having to miss days of my medication, leaving me feeling very emotional and at times suicidal (medication is for depression). Perhaps if everyone who has over a certain income had to pay, they’d be able to lower the prescription charge for everyone or be able to afford the pay rises they say they can’t afford for nurses and junior doctors.

The killer was that every single one of the people in front of me got back into massive, brand new SUVs, one couple into a Range Rover and another into a Jaguar. If they can afford to own (and run!) cars like that, paying for a prescription would be a drop in the ocean for them. AIBU to think that free prescriptions should be limited to those in pension credit just like Universal Credit?

When DH’s grandad died, his mum and auntie shared out his collection of prescription paracetamol and ibuprofen (I know they should be returned to the pharmacy but they’d only have been destroyed and both are ex nurses so I guess they know what they’re doing). I’m not joking, there were boxes and boxes of the stuff, we didn’t buy painkillers for years and these will have cost the NHS a lot more than they would from the supermarket and weren’t even taken by the person that they were intended for! Surely paracetamol and ibuprofen should not be available on the NHS at all?

I really don’t want to bash the over 60s and it wouldn’t be a vote winner for politicians but surely we can’t afford to keep free prescriptions for those that can afford them?

Only if you have a certain medical condition. For example those of us with asthma pay even though it can be life threatening.

@Plumbear2 I was trying to be helpful

It's not very convincing though

It should be free for everyone. NI, Scotland and Wales don't pay.

Oh for crying out loud, he convinced or don’t, I don’t really care. What happened is what I said happened, what would be the point of making it up 🙈.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding if you can time your prescription orders to get 13 or even 14 on a 12 month certificate then you will save money. It also means if you unexpectedly have antibiotics or anything else then they’re effectively free.

I manage to time my prescriptions so that I order every 4 weeks on the dot and so it works out at 13 per year. Last year I had a load of antibiotics and other meds too after surgery and they were free after I’d paid for my certificate which covered my one per month prescription.

TheBellegio So your retired DP have presumably worked all their lives,looked after you and your siblings ,paid into their pensions ,and both volunteer and give money to Charity.However you begrudge their help with prescriptions ,free bus passes and some help with exorbitant fuel bills. Allowing them a good standard of living in their later years .I have no idea why DM has so much medication in her cupboard ,but presumably most GPs dont hand out tablets like Smarties .Perhaps she recovered from any ailments ,which is good news surely! Also surely they dont need to be told by their children what newspapers to read! Older people often seem to be blamed for all sorts of things .Younger people seem to see them as some sort of benefit recipients being showered with gifts.Many of them want to help their families and are careful with money after working hard and not having Tax Credits to help when they had young families

Another horrible ageist thread 🙄

Ah thanks I hadn’t thought of it like that!

My DP’s don’t do online. My DF needs 224 tablets a month. He is in his 80’s and has chronic arthritis. From the pharmacy is only 64, so no where need 224.

Well, were you making a point that it’s wrong that your grandpa could pay and didn’t? If so I agree.
It doesn’t mean the universal approach “all should pay” is good, some won’t be able to but those who are like your grandad clearly should.

Oh that's different then. Sorry I thought you meant for you and just wanted to let you know what I had found.

I personally have absolutely no issue with someone needing any medication getting what they're entitled to.

it costs much more once someone is hospitalised with a heart attack/ stroke etc, than just to provide their medication.

Well that's if you hospitalise them. They could always just die. Double bubble. One less pension to pay and a bit of inheritance tax to shovel into governments mates pockets.

They already do it for people under 60 (and not a child) and it could be linked to assessments for pension credit or whatever. Of course its ludicrous that some people scrape by as they're just above the thresholds whilst others who have plenty of money get them free as they've reached an arbitrary age. Most will still be working at 60 anyway.

I’ve had 2 members of my family (over 60) have a go at me as my dd gets glucose tablets on prescription 🤦‍♀️ they are just out of touch, they have comfortable lives and feel entitled but begrudge us getting some things in prescription! At least my gp understands

Yabu firstly get yourself pre payment and secondly people over 60 have paid a lot of Ni. Thirdly how does whether they pay or not affect you in any way

I expect the OP hasn't bothered to contact her MP about this?
Way of actually getting things done.
Because Mumsnet randoms with nothing better to do than wind people online are going to be in charge of Government policy...

Yet another nasty anti older-generation thread. I’m just glad I don’t encounter some of the attitudes on here in real life.

I pay plenty of national insurance contributions too and fully expect to until I’m in my 70s and the money for these prescriptions has to come from somewhere ie the NHS, so whilst people over 60 might all get their free prescriptions, they’re also getting a worsening service due to lack of money. Personally, I’d rather pay once I’m over 60 (and fully expect that I will have to) and have a better NHS for all.

There should be more onus on doctors/pharmacists to question the drugs that are supplied to over 60s on repeat prescription. My mum didn't have her medication checked/changed for over 18 months following a stroke - it was only after my dad insisted on an appointment and that it was checked did the GP agree she didn't need half the tablets anymore.

Sorry you have depression OP. Why is it that you sometimes can't afford your prescription? You should be prioritising your prescription charges over some other things, possibly.

But pack in with the goady ageist stuff. It's not a good look on anyone. People over 60 are more likely than many others to need more medications, and you have no idea about their private lives.

So what if every single of them was driving a brand new Porsche Cayenne.

What you should be pressing your politicians for is free prescriptions for everyone instead of getting twisted up and jealous of other people. I see several pp have given you tips about maximising prepayment certificates etc.

When I was pregnant and on aspirin a male pharmacist refused to give it to me without a prescription.

There are reasons e.g. being prescribed a large amount over normal use, why over the counter drugs are given on prescription.

Bet they all went home and ate avocardo toast.

Well done on spotting all the big, fancy cars, and remembering their makes afterwards. When I was on ADs I could hardly remember my name.

The nhs doesn't have a lack of money they have bad management of money. If you are happy to pay and don't want to take money out the nhs then I suggest you go private.

So everyone had big cars. Do you go to a pharmacy in Henley perhaps/