NHS Prescriptions

[AB Editor]

 

This poll is closed.

What Should The NHS Be Able to Prescribe? (poll following on from this question)

• Products available in shops shouldn't ever be available on the nhs - 77 votes
• 57%
• Cheap products available in shops (such as sunscreen and paracetomol) shouldn't be available on the nhs but expensive ones should - 49 votes
• 36%
• Any health products (including items such as gluten-free foods) should be available on the nhs - 10 votes
• 7%

See final stats

Stats until: 11:05 Tue 31st Dec 2024 (Refreshed every 5 minutes)

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[hc4361]

Drugs, lotions and potions that are essential for health and cannot be bought over the counter without prescription.

[hc4361]

Many people with Type 2 Diabetes cannot get glucose monitors or testing strips from the NHS, despite these being an essential tool in managing glucose levels.
The NHS pay substantially less for these than the private buyer and the patient should be able to buy them at the lower price.

[Islay]

I have a friend that has to have specially made arm garments after having breast cancer, she has to pay for these on the NHS at £16 for one! They should be free

[AB Editor]

Interesting point - and a good one as it's a long term condition.

[hc4361]

Compression sleeves, Islay?

[hc4361]

Women used to be able to get sanitary towels on prescription but this was stopped for most because women would get more than they needed and rip them up for the cotton wool. They were huge back in the day.

[Islay]

Yes HC

[whiskeryron]

If they are compression sleeves similar to compression stockings ( which I get free on prescription) Islay then they should be free without question.

[Islay]

she is charged by her trust.

[hc4361]

Maybe you get yours free because you are over 60, Ron. According to this, compression stockings and hosiery should be paid for

http://psnc.org.uk/dispensing-supply/receiving-a-prescription/patient-charges/

[jno]

it sort of depends what you ean by "health". When does an illness become a condition? (Infertility? Hare lip?) And when does it become affordable for a patient to self-medicate? (How much should a gluten-free meal cost?)

[woofgang]

I think that if OTC items are to be taken of the prescribing list, then there should be some kind of safety net for those who honestly cannot afford them. Specialist foods do cost more than the “normal” equivalent. I certainly wouldn’t remove any item that is prescription only and needed for health.
I do wonder about travel vaccinations? I have never had any of mine paid for by the NHS. There is the argument that if people have to pay then they won’t have them done and the risk of bringing infection back to the UK is made greater but I don’t know enough about it to be sure.

[woofgang]

As I have said before, if the NHS needs to save money then I would stop infertility treatments in otherwise healthy individuals....but I know that view is unpopular to say the least....
My own trust saved quite a bit years ago by triggering medication reviews when any patient had more that 4 items on repeat prescription. It was a contracted service with local pharmacies.

[Baldric]

I can't vote for any of them.

A. Disagree

B. First part is ok, second part negates it imo.

C, If you're entitled to one of those Products on Perscription you should have it, again 'shouldn't ever' negates the question

[EcclesCake]

I was gobsmackedwhen discharged from hospital with my bag of pills and potions to find one of the items was Paracetemol!

I know they are cheap but it did seem an unnecessary addition.

[Patsy33]

When they talk about heartburn and indigestion drugs, they don't mean ppi' s do they? For people with acid reflux and hiatus hernia?

[gumboil]

With regard to the issue of coming out of hospital with a bagful of paracetamol, I don't think that that is unnnecessary extravagance by the NHS. Why? Well, let's remember that you can only buy 32 paracetamol at a time in a shop. When a doctor considers that you need, say, 100 paracetamol for the duration of a painful condition, what's the alternative? Are you really expecting the elderly/ill/infirm to go traipsing round the supermarkets looking for 32 paracetamol at a time until their pain subsides?

[woofgang]

you can go to a pharmacy and but as many as you like in one go.

[Jackdaw33]

No you can't.

[sunny-dave]

You can buy 100 at a pharmacy - and another 100 at the next pharmacy ... no need for 'traipsing around'.