Prescriptions

[HFJL2020]

GOVERMENT TO FORCE OVER 60S TO PAY FOR PRESCRIPTONS

[elliemay1]

Have you a link?

[Redhelen72]

I haven't seen any news today - do you have a link please?

[dannyk13]

Link please.I have seen reports of the Goverment considering this but not seen anything about it having been decided.

[aelmpvw]

isn't it being considered for the 60/66 age group?

[dannyk13]

This is the latest I could find form 6 hours ago.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/fears-free-nhs-prescriptions-to-22646561

[Mamyalynne]

Plans to raise the age, yes.

https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/1544343/Free-NHS-prescriptions-over-60s-9-35-fee-State-Pension-age-66-inflation-pensioners

[youngmafbog]

Not inforce yet but looks likely.

Johnson reallyt knows how to alienate his voters doesnt he. Still if you can afford £850 a roll for Turkish Brothel style wallpaper I dont suppose a tenner for some meds seems to be a problem. He'd probably stick them on exes if he was over 60 anyway.

[ToraToraTora]

everyone should pay anyway in my opinion, make it £1 per item rather than £10+ for the half a dozen who do actually pay.

[Redhelen72]

On some aspects they have a point - there are many people on free prescriptions because of their age that continue in full time work.
There are also many pensioners that get free scripts that can afford to pay for them.
Perhaps it should be means tested?

[ToraToraTora]

we should either charge everyone or no one and price it accordingly and stop messing about. Hardly anyone pays anyway can't bring much in can it?

[Teapots1]

Its a report /link with a lot of speculation yet again, including it could this, it could that. If anything its Boris testing the water, if the latter is true, don't see what other outcome he would expect other than an outcry. May be gauge it on the amount of outcry?

[naomi24]

Perhaps free prescriptions should only be available for items unavailable over the counter. Too many people get a prescription for a packet of Aspirin they could buy for a few pence in a supermarket. If it's free they'll have it.

[ToraToraTora]

TBF teapots has a point sounds like a load of old pony to me, the government are not going to alienate the grey vote are they?

[sunny-dave]

I agree with TTT - over here in Ireland the system is very different - the price of a prescription depends on the drug involved - but there is a minimum charge of €1 or €1.50 for *all* prescriptions depending on age and income.

That's just enough to deter the 'frequent fliers' from asking for cheap OTC drugs on prescription and also make them think about whether they actually need every item on their monthly list.

I think the same should apply in the UK - rather than penalising the 10% who do actually pay for prescriptions.

[Teapots1]

There was a report I was reading some weeks back stating that, I think, was about one third of people visiting their local doctor are regular patients week on week, month by month, attending for no real reason. They stopped short of really saying attention seekers, or just seeking company.

[Redhelen72]

I know somebody who every month received 100 paracetamol on script - didn't use them so gave them away to their friends!
When advised that they should inform the dr that they no longer require them I was told it was the dr's job to know this!

[Teapots1]

The paracetamol I buy cost me only 29p per 16 tablets (500mg) anyone having these on prescription should be stopped.

[Redhelen72]

Of course they should but pretty much like your earlier answer I suspect the dr hands them out to get rid of the serial visitors

[ToraToraTora]

they should charge a lady godiva to see the GP, that'll weed out the Hypos.

[roopower]

In a way this makes sense, with a lot of people still working into their 60s. I thought they had already put a stop to drs prescribing medicines that can be bought over the counter. My son, who is on a lot of medication for his RA, pays annually and it works out a great deal cheaper than paying as and when.