prescription charges uk

[Greenmil3]

if I started a petition do you think there are enough warfarin patients that would sign the petition?

[shazzymo]

I would sign it's ridiculous that some treatment is free for lifelong illness but not warfarin

[Ray46 in reply to shazzymo]

Definitely not free for all lifelong illnesses - otherwise would be free with APS. Also many many people on warfarin are not on it lifelong, we are one of the few classes of patients who are.

[Ozchick]

I'm in Australia so not relevant for me but out of curiosity, how much does it cost per month in UK. Here we have a system that you pay for the first (43-I think) prescriptions/year and after that they're free. These are the listed PBS scripts so with me needing several scripts each month I generally reach "free" limit in about May each year. However as generics have sometimes been in short supply, you can get named brands for the difference in price. eg Clexane shots full price for 60 is $445.88 (1 month) or $30+ for the first few months or (If not authorised it would be $415) or $445.88-$5.80=$440.08 for an old person like me but it's now free for me. (this is, however, classed as an authority script by a Consultant) I can't take Warfarin or the NOAC's as I clot on these but when I first tried Warfarin many years ago I remember it being relatively 'cheap'.

[Ray46 in reply to Ozchick]

Not really a simple answer here. Single prescriptions (so for each issue of each drug) cost roughly a tenner (£10) now, but anyone on multiple meds will use the prepayment options which are, quoting from the NHS site:

> The 3-month PPC costs £30.25 and will save you money if you need more than 3 prescribed items in 3 months.

> The 12-month PPC costs £108.10 and will save you money if you need more than 11 prescribed items in a year.

So pretty much £10 a month is the max anyone should be paying.

Lots of meds (inc. warfarin) are actually a lot cheaper than £10 (lots are also much much more) to just buy - except if they are prescription-only you may need to pay a private prescription charge on top (I have once found a pharmacy that would dispense/sell on the basis of NHS prescription history, but that was in an emergency run-out situation).

[lucaldo]

Privileged to live in Scotland where there are no prescription charges.

[Ozchick in reply to lucaldo]

For any script? That's pretty good.

[Raw57 in reply to lucaldo]

I assume your taxes whether payroll or personal pay for this privilege. I believe it’s confusing to those of us living in countries without national healthcare. I’m not trying to get political at all. Someone pays for it somewhere along the line. I’m glad Scotland organizes itself to care for its citizens in a positive way. I’m always confused by the cost of prescriptions in general. In the USA it can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. 🙁

[WendyWoo50]

I have about 20 prescriptions a month for APS, Lupus, Sjögren’s, Fibromyalgia, a genetic heart condition -Long QT, severe chronic Migraines and 4 x prolapsed discs. Anticoagulants are on that list.

I was on Warfarin for about six years until it became uncontrollable. After two hospital stays with an INR of 19 and 20 (yes 19 and 20) I was changed to Apixaban.

That means if your petition worked, I would still have to pay for all my prescriptions.

Maybe it should include all anti coags?

However, with the amount of people currently taking Warfarin, I don’t think that the NHS could afford to pay for those on it to have free medication. Good luck though I’d sign for anti-coags to be free.. X

[Ccaz01]

I for one wouldn’t as I think we are privileged that we only have to pay this relatively small amount for our medication compared to other countries. There are many life long conditions that don’t get free prescriptions, our beloved nhs couldn’t afford it. I manage the cost for all my meds by having a prepayment prescription. I pay one monthly cost and this includes all my meds no matter how many prescriptions I get filled that month. It can save you quite a bit. It is a government initiative.

[Bloodredroses in reply to Ccaz01]

please post the link to this initiative . For one cost per month .

Must be a huge amount of people on Warfarin . The monthly clinics in UCLH ( LONDON ) are packed . Is why I clutch into RIVROX . Blood tests once 6 monthly .

Warfarin must be SO cheap , must be the admin costs ?

[Jianna35]

I live in Scotland and we don't pay for prescriptions

[MaryF Administrator]

Good for you, it has been tried before and backed by various charities, I think, however all patients with serious chronic conditions need free prescriptions, but no harm in trying. MaryF

[Jolevans]

Hi, Although I now get it free due to cancer and will be 60 next week I would still definitely sign. I have been paying for the prepayment for 24 years which I feel quite strongly I shouldn’t have paid for.

[Fra22-57]

as Ray46 mentioned the yearly PPC makes it makes it a cheaper economical option which I used to get when under 60. One of the benefits to being 60 and over, prescriptions are free.If either option wasn’t available I wouldn’t be able to afford to be ill 🤣 🤒

[Madmumma]

My sister has Hashimotos, also an AI disease, causing hypothyroidism. Because she’s on thyroxine for life she doesn’t pay for any of her prescriptions. I think it should be the same for us with APS who are on Warfarin for life.

I’d definitely sign the petition and share it.

[Bloodredroses in reply to Madmumma]

I have APS for life . Rivaroxaban free , they did try to take me off ( I thought Cost as USA ) I didn’t wait to hear substitute , just said NOOOOO !

[KellyInTexas Administrator]

As an non resident, I have nothing to contribute… I hope it works out.

[butlertammy]

totally agree. I’ve switched to the annual prepayment option as I have to get 3 different warfarin dosages to have my 9mg a day (5mg, 3mg and 1mg) … plus a few other for my fibromyalgia… it was costing me a fortune!!

[greenlady]

I live in Wales - free prescriptions for all here

[Davideccroft]

I would sign. Been on warferin since 2005. My wife thinks we have to pay because low risk of us not taking it and minimal risk to health service if we don’t as we just quickly die. Compared to diabetes were a lot more people and a lot that would not pay and then cost the health service more. Not fair for too many reasons to add here. I also paid form my home INR machine and the strips. Compared to much lower cost of machine and strips for other checks. APS is also still fairly unknown by many GPs. So I assume NICE also knows little so not on their radar. Probably needs a few influencers to talk about it to help people and doctors to take notice and anyone to start to think of the costs we have compared to other serious illnesses Althea get free treatment. So sad.

[Bloodredroses in reply to Davideccroft]

TRUE 9 out of 10 G P do not know APS or Sjrogens . My G P was good , if a speciality , says see the specialist .