17 July 2013

The Prescription Charges Coalition is really pleased that Lib-Dem MP Sir Bob Russell raised many of the concerns of the Coalition during his debate on the impact of prescription charges for people with long-term conditions, referred to our Paying the Price report and highlighted many of the key findings.  You can read the debate here – http://bit.ly/12sVtUp

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On March 1st the Government announced  that Prescription Charges were due to rise by 20p, to £7.85 from 1st April. 

The Prescription Charge Coalition is a group of more than 20 organisations campaigning to end unfair prescription charges for people with long term medical conditions, including severe allergies. View the Coalition website here.

You can take e-action by clicking here , it only takes two minutes.

Crohn’s and Colitis UK, lead organisation of the Prescription Charges Coalition issued the following statement: “Patients with long-term  conditions are extremely disappointed to hear that Health Minister Earl Howe has announced a  20p rise in prescription charges to £7.85 from 1st April 2013.  As a group of charities and  organisations representing millions of people with long-term conditions, we know that prescription charges are  arbitrary, outdated and inequitable, given that the list of exemptions has hardly been updated since its introduction in the 1960s. Prescription charges have  risen every year since 1979, and the Minister must consider the impact this further increase will have on those who are already struggling to afford the essential medication required to keep them well.”

The Collation published their Paying the Price report on 11th March 2013.

The report details the findings of an online survey which ran from 8 August – 31 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.