Disgraceful decision by government to raise prescription charges in England . NRAS will keep fighting for you we promise.

UK Government’s decision to raise the cost of prescription charges is awful!

Yesterday's announcement is bitterly disappointing

for people with long term health conditions like RA in England. People are having to make tough choices everyday about whether they buy food, pay their bills or take their medication, which could keep them out of hospital!. It is clear discrimination in my mind - why just because you live in England you have to pay such charges whereas in N. Ireland, Scotland and Wales you don't!. The exemption list hasn't been reviewed since 1968 - at least they should freeze the charge until that exemption list has been reviewed.

“This decision reflects the Government’s disregard for the needs

of people with long term health conditions like inflammatory arthritis, MS, Crohn's, etc. who are already avoiding picking up their prescriptions, because they can’t afford them. This won't help the already overburdened NHS it will push it further towards breaking point as more people end up in hospital due to not taking their meds as regularly or at all due to cost!

The Prescriptions Charges Coalition urge the UK Government to urgently commit to reviewing the prescription charges exemption list, or it will fail in its bid to create a healthier nation.”

[MadBunny]

It really is disgraceful. Thank you NRAS for keeping the fight going 🤗

[vonniesims]

Thankyou

[sylvi]

Fortunately i don't have to pay for prescriptions at the moment. I would advice anyone who needs a lot of drugs to get a prepayment card as it could save you 100s of pounds.

[Jewels94]

thank you Clare. I can’t believe how ridiculous the current exemption list is. I’m exempt due to having had cancer about 4 years ago but the majority of the prescriptions I get are for my RA and not the cancer. If my tamoxifen (for breast cancer) is stopped next year I’ll be back to paying for prescriptions again

[Deeb1764]

I am going to make maybe a controversial comment but after living in States and paying a fortune for a GP or blood test or medication I don't have an issue. I don't work and we are not well off in any shape or form but paying every 3 months £30 for my pre prescription card I think this is money well spent.

For my 17 drugs per month it costs 58p per item.

I think there are a lot bigger issues than this ie consultant time, resources on the NHS and GP time that need battling for.

[J1707- in reply to Deeb1764]

I agree Dee in the scheme of things this the least of our problems. I bet most of us are on prepayment anyway. What bugs me is we have to pay at all . If you have a thyroid condition you get free prescriptions . My friend does and is only on 1 drug . I’m on 8 and can’t see it changing for the better yet I have to pay this is the real issue.

[liveinwoods in reply to Deeb1764]

I live in the US and have RA. I pay over $1,000 a year for my medications. My health insurance costs me over $6000 a year. It is expensive to stay healthy in the US!

[Deeb1764 in reply to liveinwoods]

my hubby is American and I said to him we need to go back to the UK it will kill us being in the States financially

[Hidden]

I’m lucky enough to not have to pay for my 8 medications… If I still worked I would pay for the yearly prescription card, but not everyone has £110+ to hand..

I buy my own aids etc, but people still presume we are handed them all…

Investing in a healthy/ more healthy population makes economic sense, but there is no long term or panoramic view 🙄…

Thank you NRAS for campaigning on this..

[rmros]

On a related note: If you are starting 2 or more drugs and don't want to commit to a pre-payment certificate yet before knowing it will work out: ask for an FP57 receipt every time you pay.

If you stay on the medication and decide to buy a pre-payment certificate, you can backdate it for up to three months and reclaim the earlier prescription costs against it. But you need the FP57. In my experience, pharmacists rarely tell you this.

So, for example, you've just been put on methotrexate and folic acid. That's two charges a month, £18.70 in all (despite the drugs themselves costing much less than that, but that's a separate rant). Pre-payment certificate charge is just over £9 a month if you get a 12-month certificate, or £10 a month for 3 months. So you can claim back up to £56 you've already paid.

[stbernhard]

Thank you for fighting our corner.

[Sheila_G]

Thank you NRAS. I don't have to pay for my prescriptions but I feel very sorry for people who do and will sign any petition to try to overturn it.