Prescription charges “are risk to health”
Thursday, 18th October 2001.
HAVERHILL Citizen’s Advice Bureau says people in the town are putting their health at risk because they cannot afford to pay for the medicine their doctor prescribes.
The CAB reports seeing many clients who are failing to get prescriptions dispensed because of cost, including some on sickness and or disability benefits with serious long-term health problems.
Last month, the bureau approach-a local charity to help a client suffering severe hardship to get a prescription she needed for depression, resulting from a traumatic event in her life.
Brigitte Haig, the CAB manager, said they were asking local MPs to take up the issue, and joining a national campaign by other bureaux for a reform of the prescription scheme.
“Many of the people we see are seriously ill or disabled and very hard-up. But because they have an income just a little above the income support level, they do not qualify for free prescriptions.
“We have seen people with asthma imposing self-rationing on their medication to save on prescription costs. We are also seeing people with mental health problems forced to choose between living below the poverty line or not having the medication they need to cope with living in the community,” Mrs Haig said.
Prescriptions cost £6.10 per item and 80 per cent of adults up to 60 pay the full cost.
People on income support or with an equivalent income get free prescriptions. But those receiving only incapacity benefit, likely to be heavy prescription users, are excluded, even though their income is little higher.
The only help with budgeting comes from prepayment certificates, giving unlimited prescriptions at £87.60 for a year or £31.90 for four months. But many people on very low incomes cannot afford to pay this lump sum up front.
“The experience of our clients shows that prescription charges can seriously damage your health, and the impact is felt most severely by people on low incomes and with long-term health problems. This cannot be right and it has got to change,” Mrs Haig said.
Anyone having difficulties should contact the CAB for advice on (01440) 704012 or call into the office in Swan Lane on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday morning.
The CAB reports seeing many clients who are failing to get prescriptions dispensed because of cost, including some on sickness and or disability benefits with serious long-term health problems.
Last month, the bureau approach-a local charity to help a client suffering severe hardship to get a prescription she needed for depression, resulting from a traumatic event in her life.
Brigitte Haig, the CAB manager, said they were asking local MPs to take up the issue, and joining a national campaign by other bureaux for a reform of the prescription scheme.
“Many of the people we see are seriously ill or disabled and very hard-up. But because they have an income just a little above the income support level, they do not qualify for free prescriptions.
“We have seen people with asthma imposing self-rationing on their medication to save on prescription costs. We are also seeing people with mental health problems forced to choose between living below the poverty line or not having the medication they need to cope with living in the community,” Mrs Haig said.
Prescriptions cost £6.10 per item and 80 per cent of adults up to 60 pay the full cost.
People on income support or with an equivalent income get free prescriptions. But those receiving only incapacity benefit, likely to be heavy prescription users, are excluded, even though their income is little higher.
The only help with budgeting comes from prepayment certificates, giving unlimited prescriptions at £87.60 for a year or £31.90 for four months. But many people on very low incomes cannot afford to pay this lump sum up front.
“The experience of our clients shows that prescription charges can seriously damage your health, and the impact is felt most severely by people on low incomes and with long-term health problems. This cannot be right and it has got to change,” Mrs Haig said.
Anyone having difficulties should contact the CAB for advice on (01440) 704012 or call into the office in Swan Lane on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday morning.
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