Given the fact that scripts are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland how likely is it that England will go the same way and would it be a good thing?
Having worked in a lot of manic script factories in Wales, I can only venture it wouldn't .
It encourages a free for all system whereby people will buy absolutely nothing over the counter, when they know it's available free on script or via a minor ailments scheme. It also encourages hoarding of medications and a lot of wastage. My own view is that a nominal charge of £1 per item for EVERYBODY would be a better system.
i have had a similar conversation with colleagues and friends about the oen charge fits all....in theory it sounds good, but i dont' think it will ever be implemented. There would be too much of an uproar if it did happen.
you have to think of those paople who have 20 plus items a month on their repeats cripts...ok an MUR could wittle some of them down....but think about Mr X with diabetes, underactive thyroid, heart failure, parkinsons disease and a mettalic heart valve, and to top it off comes in with a chest infection. £1 per item for him would probably send him over the edge. And to add salt to the injury he has probably overpaid on all his taxes!
you want to be targetting those who are a drain on the NHS, those not paying taxes, and those wasting NHS resources!
All too quickly we could be looking at a private system, yet quite a few countries look to the NHS as a good thing.......
Okay maybe a uniform charging sytem might not work but maybe one whereby a working person pays £2-3 per item and person on benefits maybe pays 50p per item. Pensioners and those with certain medical conditions pay nothing, like it is currently. It's just scandalous that those on benefits do not have to contribute a dime towards a 20 item script for example.
George Galloway would accuse me of reading too many red top tabloids at this stage. Perhaps if these socialists came down from the ivory tower and seen how socialism is really administered in practice, they may change their opinion.
it all sounds good, but people see the NHS free at the point of access...even grading the payment scheme, people will still find loop holes in it and will abuse it!
maybe we should move to a private scheme...similar to america....either way you're not going to be able to please everyone....
so it gets to the point, we are denying patients treatment based on cost. By blocking the likes of viagra, xenical on NHS script will save some money, forcing the patients to go private to get their scripts. Its most likely it is NHS doctors running the private clinics and will pocket the money.
But can we deny treatment based on cost.....i think this is where NICE comes into force for approval of drugs and the like....often quite contraversial!
Its quite ironic the government are running the NHS, yet they themselves can barely keep the country afloat, i often wish i could reclaim the taxes back from decorating my house from the taxman!
I must admit that I believe that everyone should pay for their prescriptions, with the sole exception of children who are at school or under school age.
A charge per item of £1 is not excessive and if repeat prescriptions could cover two months, rather than one, even the person on 20 items will still only pay £10 per month. And you also need to consider that if a person has a need for so many items then are more likely than not receiving extra incapacity benefits and it is not unreasonable to expect them to put at least some of that money towards the medication that they require.
In the Republic of Ireland about 2/3 of patients are 'private' and must pay the full cost of their medicines, capped at €120 a month, and pay their doctor (usually about €50 a visit). Being ill is expensive here.
The remaining 1/3, those on the lowest incomes or benefit, get a 'medical card' which entitles them to free doctors visits and, until this month, free prescriptions. On the 1st Oct our almost bankrupt government introduced a charge of 50c for every item for practically all patients. The charge is capped at €10 per family per month, although nobody knows yet how this will be administered.
There has been practically no serious opposition to this charge and most patients are paying up without any complaint, many remarking that they consider it good value and that they are happy to make a contribution.
It is too soon to say if it will stop people getting prescriptions filled or if it will do anything to cut down on waste but already is looks as if it is here to stay and may soon be increased.
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