Prescription Charges Coalition

The Anaphylaxis Campaign is a member of The Prescription Charge Coalition, a group of more than 30 organisations campaigning to end unfair prescription charges for people with long term medical conditions, including severe allergies.

Lib-Dem MP Sir Bob Russell:

“Free prescriptions for those who need them to live””It is a matter of considerable concern that many people with long-term conditions are not collecting or taking their medicines effectively because of the cost, as is all too clearly illustrated in the Prescription Charges Coalition’s recent report “Paying the price”. The coalition surveyed almost 4,000 patients with long-term conditions and found that 35 per cent who paid for their prescriptions had not collected medicines due to cost.”

We are campaigning to extend exemption from prescription charges to all those with long-term conditions in England. The coalition brings together over 40 organisations representing hundreds of thousands of people with numerous long term health conditions.  We are involved as the current system, created in 1968, is unfair and very out-of-date, with some long term conditions qualifying people for free prescriptions whilst others do not.

This affects us at the Anaphylaxis Campaign because allergy often requires regular and long term prescriptions which are not exempt from charges despite being essential to day to day quality of life and, in the case of adrenaline injectors, lifesaving.

 The impact of paying for prescriptions whilst living with a long term condition is both serious and widespread as the Prescription Charges Coalition reports show. You can read the reports here

The Collation published their “Paying the Price” report on 11th March 2013. The report details the findings of an online survey which ran from 8th August – 31st October 2012 to explore the impact of prescription charges on people with long-term conditions in England in the current economic climate.

Past research and experience from health professionals has identified that prescription charges have had a significant impact on patients taking their medication correctly, despite the existence of the Prescription Prepayment Certificate and exemptions for charges for those with some specific medical conditions and for those in receipt of certain state benefits.

We hope to tackle this problem of expense and injustice through the Prescription Charges Coalition. For further information, and to get involved, visit the website here.

You can also show your support or share your experiences via Twitter at @prescriptionCC

What can you do to help?

We need your help to raise the profile of this issue and bring it to top of the agenda.

STEP 1:

Fill out this simple form and send directly to your MP now!

STEP 2:

Keep on the pressure! Tweet your MP and copy us [email protected]

STEP 3:

Sign the petition!
Find out more on the campaign here.