Exemption from prescription charges/free prescriptions

isabelseymour

I know that many people with RA, like myself, have to pay prescription charges for their basic RA medication and feel that this is just another issue that we have to deal with. I have been doing a bit of googling and have found two ways in which we can try to influence those with the power or authority to be able to change the regulations on prescription charges.

The Department of Health is undertaking a review into the possibility of giving exemption from prescription charges to all those with "long term conditions". The definition of a "long term condition" has not yet been agreed but the DoH is carrying out a survey on its website seeking the views of the public. The link to this is below and I would urge as many people as possible to take 5 minutes to complete the questionnaire:

http://www.info.doh.gov.uk/questionnaire/prescriprew.nsf

As well as this, a petition has recently been started on the Number10 website asking for consideration to be given to offering people with RA free prescriptions. I know there has not been much success with these petitions in the past but the link is below if anyone wants to put their name to it:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Rheumatoid/

elnafinn

Thanks for that Isabel. Done and dusted.

Look after yourself,

Elna x

colinone

isabelseymour wrote:

I know that many people with RA, like myself, have to pay prescription charges for their basic RA medication and feel that this is just another issue that we have to deal with. I have been doing a bit of googling and have found two ways in which we can try to influence those with the power or authority to be able to change the regulations on prescription charges.

The Department of Health is undertaking a review into the possibility of giving exemption from prescription charges to all those with "long term conditions". The definition of a "long term condition" has not yet been agreed but the DoH is carrying out a survey on its website seeking the views of the public. The link to this is below and I would urge as many people as possible to take 5 minutes to complete the questionnaire:

http://www.info.doh.gov.uk/questionnaire/prescriprew.nsf

As well as this, a petition has recently been started on the Number10 website asking for consideration to be given to offering people with RA free prescriptions. I know there has not been much success with these petitions in the past but the link is below if anyone wants to put their name to it:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Rheumatoid/

Well done for that
Colin

eckstardeluxe

I have signed it, good luck x

debsmartin

Thanks for the links, I've filled in both. Lets hope they listen

debs

nearlybionic

Ok all done and signed .
NB

lindah

Both done.
Some strange questions in there
Thanks for the opportunity of giving something back on here,there have been a lot of answers for me in the few weeks I have been reading the posts.

brighteyes

Hi

Just completed the questionnaire and the petition. I have long held the view that it should be the drugs that are exempt and not the person.

I have to take 10 different meds daily and have to pay for a prepayment certificate, even though I get incapacity benefit and our finances are dire due to my condition (although not so dire that we qualify for income-based benefits). My sister was diagnosed recently with an overactive thyroid and now is completely exempt whether she gets antibiotics for a sore throat, cream for her skin or thyroxin.

Surely if they changed the system so that even those with an exempt condition had to pay for routine prescriptions, it would free up resources for the rest of us.

frogmorton

Did you put that in your survey questionaire thingy brighteyes?
It's true I have a friend with thyroid probs and she thinks it's wrong too!
All signed
Toni x

brighteyes

Yes I most certainly did!!!

livinglegend

What they pay to the jobsworths and hangers-on on the committees who make these decisions would pay for free prescriptions for all for many, many years.

At least thats what I said to them.

Joseph 8)

ichabod6

Your view is the right one brighteyes,

claregood1

Signed up and comments noted.
Thanks for the link
Clare