General Chat

I get a pre-payment card yearly has I am now on 9 items a month and more if needed like this month I needed 2 more items. It works out a lot cheaper that way before I moved away my prescriptions were free as on low wages.

Ah I think Ive seen Lee before bowing out .

I have never understood why England has prescription charges. I started taking 3 lots of tablets when I was 57 and I paid about £15 every 4 weeks. I note now it would be £24 every 4 weeks. Ridiculous. I always paid a stamp - it should have been free. We have insured all our lives against ill health, cost of prescriptions and failing teeth.

Suzanne makes what appears on surface to be a good point. But I honestly think in England there will be a minimal amount of revenue that goes back into the NHS from presciptions. It is just another hidden tax on hardworking people. Many will be exempt in England and will have to fill in a form every time they claim exemption.

And, of course, situation in Wales is that a large percentage would be exempt anyway. Paying for scrips would just be a paper chase for absolutely no gain.

Having read the number of items of medication people require on prescription and the increased cost of them, I'm glad that my main health problems began when I reached 65 years of age. I just wish that England had free presciptions for everyone. It doesn't seem fair to me.

GP

Charges need not be so high. The enormous amount of wasted prescribed drugs is a disgrace. In addition patients asking for their soluble aspirin that costs about 30p per month to buy OTC (I buy mine) and £7 whatever to have your pharmacist dispense them.

We have pharmaceutical tourism in Wales (not a joke). Local surgeries are besieged by some tourists who demand their free scrips whilst they are on holiday! That drives me crazy!!

dont start me on the wasted drugs saga please.

the aount of houses ive been into where they stockpile drugs is unbelievable unless seen. and im talking about tallboys and large cupboards crammed with medication.
parents and some elderly patients with repeat prescriptions will take them to the chemist whether they need them or not,most of these meds run out of date before they can be used,its a terrible waste of money..
:-(

Although I live in Wales I have had only one prescription in the last 7 years. The last prescription I had prior to then they were not free. I hate going to the docs and usually buy over the counter meds and realise I am very lucky to have good health at the moment.

I didn't know that tourists could get free scrips though.

Until a few years ago many caravan owners here used to claim free bus passes using their caravan site address to obtain them. Took the council many years to cotton on to that.

its not fair. free prescriptions should be available for all. as should hospital carparks. it wont be long before we have to pay a fee to see a g.p.

Jean, parking, even with a disabled badge, at hospitals takes the biscuit when it's a PATIENT paying.

I had a discussion yonks ago about the appointments office sending out a single days free parking ticket with the appointment card. They said what a good idea and guess what? Nothing was done, too much income generated by the sick.

agree supercrutch. no patients or visitors should have to pay to park. but the staff also have to pay parking charges, as i had to. if on holiday or sick, you had to pay plus a £10 fee for your swipe card. its a total rip off, what the sick get is soon taken off them with all the charges.

Here in NZ we pay to see a doctor. At least the oldies dont have to pay as much as the younger ones, and I think small children are free. When I visited England in 1997 I needed to see a doc and afterwards I asked the receptionist 'how much' and was greatly surprised to be told it was free.

Prior to the NHS coming into being, my gran in Scotland used to keep a small vase on the mantlepiece in which she kept sixpences to pay the doctor, I still have that vase :-)

Until recently prescriptions were free for pensioners in Spain. We now have to pay a contribution per prescription which is a maximum of around €8. I usually pay about €5.50 for 6 items on mine.
My brother in England has to pay an enormous amount for his medication as he is still under 65.

It is 60 that is the qualifying age for free prescriptions in England.

Interesting KenSE.
I´ll mention it to him.

The prescription form has a number of tick boxes (circles actually) the first of which is for the patient being age 60 or over. You sign and date it.when getting the prescription.

Your dob is on the prescription - a well trained assistant/chemist will spot this and doesn't even expect you to tick the boxes.

It's worth using the small local dispensing chemist for the service alone!