Prescription Charges (Hansard, 19 June 1952)

§ 10. Mr. Janner
asked the Minister of Health if he will consider amending the charge for prescriptions so that 1s. only is charged for a set of prescriptions needed for one patient and not for each prescription form as at present, since such a set of prescriptions written out by a doctor may cover more than one form and more than 1s. is then payable.

§ Mr. Iain Macleod
No, Sir. I do not think this would be practicable.

§ Mr. Janner
Does the Minister know that of cases where one prescription written by a doctor whose handwriting is not very clear is contained on two forms, with the result that the patient has to pay 2s. for one prescription? Surely the right hon. Gentleman will not make this matter purely one of calligraphy. Would he not reconsider his decision?

§ Mr. Macleod
I shall certainly not make it a matter of calligraphy, but the suggestion of the hon. Member would put a considerable burden upon chemists, not only in deciphering the handwriting of doctors but in the sorting of prescriptions. However, it is a matter in which I shall continually watch the trend as it becomes clear after the effect of these charges is known.

§ 20. Mr. Chapman
asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to advise doctors to put as many prescriptions as possible on one form and to counteract the suggestion from chemists that prescriptions should be limited to two per form.

§ Mr. Iain Macleod
Doctors are already aware of their rights and obligations in this connection.

§ Mr. Chapman
Is the Minister aware that when the scheme was free, under the previous Government, chemists encouraged doctors not to put two prescriptions on a form because of the notorious illegibility of doctors' handwriting? As this is now resulting in people going to chemists with sheafs of prescription forms, each bearing two prescriptions, will he ask doctors to cease the practice?

§ Mr. Macleod
Too many doctors are present for me to comment on their handwriting. In view of the charges there is obviously no interest in chemists suggesting that prescriptions should be limited. As far as I am aware, chemists have not made any such suggestion. As regards the doctors, the advice is contained in the ordinary official handbook for medical practitioners.

§ 29. Dr. Broughton
asked the Minister of Health to what extent pharmacists will be liable themselves to bear the financial loss under his regulations by exercising their discretion in respect of the shilling charge for prescriptions in those cases where the patient has no money available and the need for medicine is urgent.

§ Mr. Iain Macleod
A small allowance will be made to chemists to cover such rare cases.

§ Dr. Broughton
Are we to understand from the statement of the Minister that chemists have his permission to give medicines free of charge in certain cases?

§ Mr. Macleod
No, it is not anything as formal as that. I have no intention of saying that if the need is desperately urgent and if the person is very genuinely without money, that that person shall be charged. I will not say that. But because those sort of circumstances can arise, we are making a small adjustment in chemists' remuneration—it has been agreed with them—which, I believe, will cover this matter.

§ 36. Mr. Bence
asked the Minister of Health what quantitative limitation has been placed on doctors' prescriptions.

§ Mr. Iain Macleod
None, Sir. But a doctor's prescribing may be challenged if it appears that the quantities ordered are in excess of what was reasonably necessary for the proper treatment of his patients.

§ Mr. Bence
Is the Minister aware that a great deal of disquiet is felt because many National Health Service patients are finding that, whereas under the old, free Service one prescription was very often sufficient to complete treatment, sometimes they have to get two or three, or even four? I have seen a jar in which there was a little ointment in the bottom, whereas in the past the jar was filled.

§ Mr. Macleod
I very rarely get complaints that too little is prescribed; I am much more used to hearing that too much has been prescribed.

§ Dr. Stross
Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the problem of bulk prescribing, which in certain cases has been agreed to by local executive councils, and will he continue the permission that bulk prescriptions for certain institutions shall be allowed?

§ Mr. Macleod
That is a different question from the one on the Order Paper.

§ Colonel Stoddart-Scott
Where a doctor has over-prescribed, are there powers to surcharge him?

§ Mr. Macleod
Yes, in the last resort. There is a pricing investigation unit at the headquarters of my Ministry which carries out these investigations. But the vast majority are settled amicably by discussion between my regional medical officers and the doctors concerned