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Prescription Charges: Long-term Health Conditions
11 March 2024
Lead MP
Christina Rees
Neath
Lab
Responding Minister
Andrea Leadsom
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 4454
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
Christina Rees raised concerns about prescription charges: long-term health conditions in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I urge the Minister and the UK Government to listen to the thousands who have signed petitions relating to prescription charges. It is essential that we start expanding the medical exemption list for those suffering from chronic conditions, as doing so can improve their quality of life and potentially reduce long-term healthcare costs.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
I am concerned about the impact of prescription charges on individuals with chronic or long-term health conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and endometriosis. The creator of a petition, Mia, is in her 20s and faces paying for medication to alleviate MS symptoms for decades. There are no gold-standard medications that completely alleviate symptoms for many listed conditions. The criteria for medical exemption certificates have not been reviewed since 1968, with the inclusion of cancer patients in 2009 being a notable exception.
Lilian Greenwood
Lab
Nottingham South
My hon. Friend is doing a great job of setting out some of the challenges that people with long-term conditions face. She shares concern about the damaging impact on both individual health and the national health service, as skipping medication due to cost leads to more GP visits, A&E admissions, and hospital stays, which are expensive for the NHS and detrimental to individuals and their families.
Preet Kaur Gill
Lab Co-op
Birmingham Edgbaston
Ms Gill highlighted the financial burden of prescription charges on people with chronic conditions, noting that living standards have dropped due to the cost-of-living crisis. She argued for reforming health and care services to ensure better access to treatment and reducing the outlay of prescriptions, which can be up to £111.60 annually. She questioned the fairness in how different conditions are treated under current exemptions and called on the Government to reassess the medical exemption list.
Government Response
Andrea Leadsom
Government Response
Discussed the Government's stance on prescription charges, stating that while the charge is currently set at £9.65 per item and reviewed annually, exemptions cover 89% of all prescription items. Emphasised support measures like a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) capping annual costs at £111.60 or around £2 weekly, and the NHS Low Income Scheme providing help for those on low incomes. Noted that long-term conditions affect over 26 million people in England, with about £206 billion spent on health and social care in 2022-23. Highlighted efforts to support employment for those with long-term conditions through work coach support and the Disability Confident scheme. Mentioned energy bill support measures like a £400 discount over six months and an extended energy price guarantee reducing typical annual household bills by about £3,000. Reaffirmed the Government's decision to require contributions from better-off patients while recognising that 89% of prescription charges are no longer payable.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.