Should asthmatics get free prescriptions?

[Yorkiegirl]

Message withdrawn

my (late) mum was an asthma sufferer and had inhalers all the time, she always said she should have it free, but with all the other drugs she had to take (ones that eventually killed her ) she found buying a yearly prescription certificate cheaper than paying out for individual items.

It's a tough one (I'm asthmatic too, btw). I think the biggest problem is that the NHS just doesn't have the money to fund all the medication for free and they're already subsidized in the subscription charge. I have to pay for my own glasses too even though it's not my fault I am short sighted.

I think I'd rather pay a subsidized price and have the people who really do need help paying get it free than them running out of money and being unable to pay for (say) chemotherapy drugs for patients that needed them...

I think the regulations governing which illnesses qualify for free prescriptions are way out of date. There are lots of conditions which do not qualify which are equally life-threatening to those that do. My DH has to take warfarin as he is at risk of PEs and strokes without it-but he does not qualify. The system needs updating to cover all life-threatening conditions-or none-so that it is fair.

I too am in agreement with you Yorkiegirl. I am also a sufferer. The thing that annoys me is, there are some conditions that you can have free presecriptions with, even if their present ailment is totally unrelated to the actual condition that enables them that free prescription. I personally am not asking for all my prescriptions to be free, just the ones that are asthma related. As yes, without them, we would probably die

I'm not asthmatic and agreed with Yorkiegirl at first. Only free asthma medication though. Then I read Georgina's post and I think I agree with her more.

The prescription charge is really high as it is (I was p*ssed off over Christmas beczuse I had to pay 2 charges when my first course of anitibiotics didn't work for example). I think the whole system needs an overhaul to make it fairer.

i work for a health policy think tank & this is what we think! i have diabetes & therefore get all my prescriptions free. this seems a bit silly, i wouldn't at all mind paying for non-diabetes related ones.

Oooh tricky one - I do agree that all life threatening illnesses should be free - but that would be a huge cost. And it would also mean that others that 'need' their medication, but won't die without it would still have to pay - or even pay more.

My mum won't die if she doesn't take her medication - but takes nearly 20 tablets a day for her Parkinson's Disease, Arthritis and High Blood Pressure. Even with the prescription certificate it's still really expensive - and she'll be on most of those tablets for life.

Message withdrawn

My friend in US has to pay $30 every time she goes to the doctor. She's 10 weeks pregnant and hasnt been yet because "she doesnt have to". She's also epileptic and has 3 kids and would love to be part of the NHS again.

Know what you mean though - it must be a pain having to fork out just so you can keep breathing properly. I have to use one if my hayfever gets really bad in Summer and that's pretty annoying

I think we should as I have to pay out around £13-£20 a month on inhalers. For the right to be able to breath. Some gps will put 2 inhalers down as one item so u only have to pay for one but you have to have a very sympathetic gp.
If you also add into it the added vunerability to chest infections / needing steroids etc it is a nightmare.
But then I suppose it depends where you would draw the line.

Nemo - what about a prepaymnet certificate here

12 month 006

I ran out of ventolin when staying with a friend and had to get an emergency prescription - the true cost of one of those inhalers is over £30

I think they should be free yes. A family friend is severly asthmatic and spends a fortune on all of her drugs to keep her asthma under control. She has also said before that she wouldn't mind paying for any other asthma unrelated drugs but thinks the asthma ones should be free.

My daughter also has asthma and I personally don't hink she should have to pay for her inhalers when she is older.

It is silly cos my mom gets free perscriptions because of a thyroid problem, but that is only one set of tablets a month, but she then gets all other perscriptions free to, painkillers, etc etc.

dh has serious heart problems as well as being asthmatic. wehilst we were waiting for our income support to be dealt with when he was 1st ill he had to pay for each item of medication. in one month we spent £100 on perscriptions. we managed to claim it all back as we asked for reciepts for each item.

if we didnt qualify then i'd buy a pre-payment yearly certificate.

i didnt realise prepayment certificate was so chea. Definetly looking into it. If im not pg this month then I will get one..lol

Message withdrawn

Nemo1977 - Thats really bad of your GP not to let you have more than one at a time. Especially as you obviously get through so many. I ask my GP for 3 at a time, but luckily they last 6-12 months.