Cost of living and prescription charges....have you a story to share?

[Clare-NRAS]

Have you gone without your medications because you couldn't afford the prescription charge? Have you had to make a choice between medications or food or fuel? Waited desperately for pay day to get that prescription filled? Then we'd want to hear your story.

NRAS is a member of the Prescriptions' Charges Coalition. The Prescription Charges Coalition (PCC), chaired by Parkinson’s UK, is an alliance of 50 health charities and professional health bodies campaigning for all people with long-term conditions in England to be exempt from prescription charges, like their counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

There will be a virtual meeting on the afternoon of Weds 14th Dec with an MP from the Health and Social Care Select Committee and we're looking for someone willing to tell their story of how paying for prescriptions has impacted their disease.

If your lived experience can amplify the need for this inequity and inequality to be addressed and are free and willing to join the meeting please email me a brief outline of your experience by tomorrow afternoon Friday 9th Dec (sorry for short notice). [e-mail]

Only one person will be selected to participate in the meeting.

[medway-lady]

It hasn't me and its the one benefit of having thyroid disease as all prescriptions are then free. I feel strongly that is not fair but its how it is. Thyroxine is dirt cheap anyway. Can you ask why these days to justify why meds are prescribed for a month at a time ? as if people are in difficult circumstances then then getting one prescription is far more economic than 3. This should also include dentists and opticians both are needed by RA patients yet I don't think there are many NHS dentists anymore (or at least around here). Especially as I was told its because people waste medications yet some like Thyroxine are vital for life, so ok sell it and die. That is an absolute rubbish argument. The monthly prescription has more than financial prescription implications as cost to get to Pharmacy, time and effort has to be taken into account. When years ago I was preceded MTX privately I took a cheque book to pharmacy to pay for it, it cost £1.90 for a month ! So might be a good idea to cost the medications privately prescribed to see if the NHS is making a lot by a standard charge. And I know its swings and roundabouts but MTX is the most common RA prescribed medications.