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Free prescriptions for cancer patients.........but not in Scotland.
From April 1st, cancer patients in England will be eligible for free prescriptions. All cancer patients undergoing treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer or the effects of cancer treatment can now apply for excemption certificates from their GP surgery or Oncology clinic.
Scotland is phasing out prescription charges by april 2011.
I think this is very unfair to cancer patients in Scotland, so I am now campaigning that cancer patients in Scotland should be treated the same as those in england and also be excempt from prescription charges.
There are many ways of getting free prescriptions in scotland though. If you have a thyroid problem or you are pregant,over 60, or on certain benefits . You can also claim on a form if you are on low income.
butterfly
28-Jan-09, 02:52
that is unfair,so much for being a united kingdom.....:mad:
gillian17
28-Jan-09, 03:24
You have had the Barnett Formula for thirty one years
I agree with you 100% Fran.
All Cancer Patients in Scotland should get and receive FREE Prescriptions.
I would back you in your Campaign to achieve this. Just post in here what you will be doing and I will do all I can to help.
K
That is disgusting, I never realised they had to pay anyway. As if it wasn't bad enough having the disease. I have thyroid problems so therefore am exempt, but in all honesty I never knew that such conditions as cancer had to pay for theirs, bloody disgusting. Get that petition going I'll sign it.
dirdyweeker
28-Jan-09, 16:23
Quite agree that free prescriptions should be given to folk suffering cancer. Any illness that requires drugs to keep you alive should be free. One (mostly) does not choose to be ill.
Roll on 2011 so that all are free.
I was prescribed anti-cancer drugs for 7 years and paid for the prescription over that time. I was fortunate that I could afford to buy the annual prescription, sorry to say that not every is able to do this.
Shabbychic
28-Jan-09, 16:50
You have had the Barnett Formula for thirty one years
And this means??
That is disgusting, I never realised they had to pay anyway. As if it wasn't bad enough having the disease. I have thyroid problems so therefore am exempt, but in all honesty I never knew that such conditions as cancer had to pay for theirs, bloody disgusting. Get that petition going I'll sign it.
I too get free prescriptions because of thyroid problem. If we can get free prescriptions for everything because of this, so should cancer patients. I have written to parliament etc, we'll see what happens.
the explaination seems to be that if you need drugs because your body is lacking in something you get it free but if you need them for anything else you pay.
It is all very well to say that cancer patients should get it free because they are going to be free in England but bear in mind that we already pay less in Scotland for our prescriptions and that it will be reduced again until it is free for everything in 2011 - this is not happening in England or Wales - so can we really complain?
by the way, just for information, the annual " season ticket" is now only £40 something pounds and covers all prescriptions for the year (again considerably cheaper than the rest of the UK)
ShelleyCowie
28-Jan-09, 17:17
I too get free prescriptions because of thyroid problem. If we can get free prescriptions for everything because of this, so should cancer patients. I have written to parliament etc, we'll see what happens.
Good on you Fran for taking action!!! ;)
I think it is awful how people have to pay for prescriptions full stop!! They are paying that to be alive!!! If everybody took a stand and refused to pay it...surely the government would not let us just get sicker!!
Asthmatics, now that really gets me aswell! They pay to BREATH! How on earth is that fair! (No im not asthmatic)
Prescriptions are rediculous! :mad:
gillian17
28-Jan-09, 17:19
I think they are free in Wales but I cannot swear on that xx
Alice in Blunderland
28-Jan-09, 17:33
I think they are free in Wales but I cannot swear on that xx
They are Wales reduced the charge gradually until it was abolished Scotland are doing the same.
gillian17
28-Jan-09, 17:39
This might sound stupid, and every time I type that I know its going to be stupid. When you say parliament which one do you mean? Holyrood or Westminster? xx
Found out today that diabetics get free prescriptions but people with asthma dont. I really do feel that something should be done, I have contacted a lot of people so will see what happens.
I suffer from Crohns Disease, arthritis and asthma but have to pay for all my prescriptions.:(
Just glad the price of a pre-payment certificate has come down and will be phased out completely.
Good luck Fran and well done!
This might sound stupid, and every time I type that I know its going to be stupid. When you say parliament which one do you mean? Holyrood or Westminster? xx
Maybe both, but at the moment the scottish parliament.
Colin Fox mp Scottish Socialist party is going to introduce a bill in the scottish parliament to abolish prescription charges, as this has been done in Wales. Have also contacted John thurso and others.
[quote=Fran;492310]Found out today that diabetics get free prescriptions but people with asthma dont. I really do feel that something should be
well...am i not lucky i have both diabetes type 1 and asthma....yippee..something good comes with them.[lol]
would still rather be fit and well ..[disgust]
the explaination seems to be that if you need drugs because your body is lacking in something you get it free but if you need them for anything else you pay.
It is all very well to say that cancer patients should get it free because they are going to be free in England but bear in mind that we already pay less in Scotland for our prescriptions and that it will be reduced again until it is free for everything in 2011 - this is not happening in England or Wales - so can we really complain?
by the way, just for information, the annual " season ticket" is now only £40 something pounds and covers all prescriptions for the year (again considerably cheaper than the rest of the UK)
......Prescriptions are £7.10, Prepayment certificate is 3 months £27.85 and £102.50 for a year.
England dont pay prescriptions at all so we are not really paying less.And yes we can complain.....of those who are excempt are...."those with a continous physical disability that prevent the patient from leaving their home without the help of another person". To me that includes cancer patients, it could also apply to epileptics, asthmatics etc who have to pay for prescriptions. Maybe they could use this to get free prescriptions. I think this ruling could open the door to lots of people. MaNY CANCER PATIENTS CANNOT GO OUT WITHOUT SOMEONE WITH THEM . ( sorry my keys keepo sticking)
Alice in Blunderland
29-Jan-09, 16:31
Fran the price of a prescription is five pounds. :)
Youre quite right, thanks alice, I was given wrong information. They came down to £5 last April.
Fran, it's in England that prescriptions cost £7.10 each. Charges here were reduced to £5.00 last year and are set to be reduced to £4.00 this year, £3.00 in 2010, and to be abolished altogether in 2011. :)
The cost of prepayment certificates will also come down (I think by £10) this year and again in 2010.
People who have a chronic health condition which doesn't currently exempt them from prescription charges don't have to pay if they are over 60, or if they're in receipt of income support. There is a form to claim exemption if you are on a low income, and a different form if your illness/disability makes it impossible for you to collect your prescription by yourself.
Not many people are aware of these forms and I'm afraid I can't remember the name of each one. I appreciate that they don't cover everyone, but a lot of folk would benefit from free prescriptions if they did know about them.:)
The forms you mention are ;-
low income can apply on an HC1 form, obtained from some gp's, hospitals and social security. You then get an HC3 certificate if you qualify and this gives you free prescriptions, free travel to hospital, dental charges, glasses eye tests, and is valid for 6 months and then you reapply.
You can find out if you qualify for free charges on the gov and pensions website, probably the wrong name!
A good site to go to is http.//www.ppa.org.uk/pdfs/ppc/hc11.pdf
You can be excempt through age, low income, some benefits and chronic medical conditions, yet a lot of chronic mediacl conditions are not covered.........
People who are excempt if they have;-
permanent fistula e.g renal patients
hypoadrenalism
diabetes
hypoparathyroidism
myxoedema
epilepsy
under 16 and over 60
pregnant and one year after pregnancy
war pensioners
and those with a continuous physical diasability that prevents the person from leaving home without the help of another person....(I personally think this applies to a number of people who are not included above)
It is hard to understand why crohns disease,ms, arthritis, mental health patients do not qualify, along with many other illnesses. Lets hope this will change soon.
It is interesting to know that between April-September laST YEAR, 4.93 MILLIONprescriptions were dispersed to patients in sc otland who were not excempt from paying charges.
From April 1st 2011 all prescriptions charges will be abolished in Scotland but that is 2 years away.
There are some new proposals.......Regulations will be introduced to the Scottish Parliament proposing that from april 1 this year the charge for a single prescription will be reduced further from £5 to £4, but that is still £20 if you have 5 lots of tablets. Just been speaking to my pal who has terminal cancer and is under 60 and her husband is working, with creams for her legs and feet, pills etc, which are often changed, she has 15 items which is £75 per time because she has no other illnesses like diabetes.
It is also proposed that the price of a 12 month prescription payment certificate will be reduced to £38, which will gteatly help my pal, and the price of a 4 month ppc reduced to £17.
Shabbychic
29-Jan-09, 18:26
The Scottish prescription charges are being phased out as follows:-
Prescription pre-payment certificates:
PPC 4 month
2008-09 £17.00; 2009-10 £13.00; 2010-11 £10.00; from April 2011 Zero
Prescription pre-payment certificates:
PPC 12 month
2008-09 £48.00; 2009-10 £38.00; 2010-11 £28.00; from April 2011 Zero
Cost of single prescriptions:
Current Cost
2008-09 £5.00; 2009-10 £4.00; 2010-11 £3.00; from April 2011 Zero
Good news...........cancer patients now get free prescriptions.... and the government is currently reviewing which medical conditions should be exempted and how it can be phased in (see my first post on here).
The British Heart Foundation say heart and circulatory disease is Britains biggest killer and are hoping free prescriptions will be given to those suffering from these diseases.
Essential and life-saving drugs should be made available to everyone who needs them.
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