HC Deb 30 November 1959 vol 614 cc865-7
36. Brigadier Clarke

asked the Minister of Health if he will abolish health charges for all old-age pensioners suffering from a complaint certified to be chronic by a National Health medical practitioner.

42. Mr. F. Noel-Baker

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received regarding the unnecessary cumbersomeness and expense of the method now employed to refund the cost of medical prescriptions to old people; and if he will now arrange to exempt them from these charges altogether.

Mr. Walker-Smith

No general representations have been received against the procedure for refunds which is simple, puts the applicant to no extra expense and is not costly to administer.

As regards remission, I would refer to my statement in the House on the future of prescription charges generally on 15th July last.

Brigadier Clarke

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that the health charges put on by hon. Members opposite cause great hardship to the chronic sick? Will he do something to relieve this by allowing old-age pensioners to get their medicine free if they are invalids? Is he aware that many old-age pensioners will not draw National Assistance and consequently cannot get their medicine free?

Mr. Walker-Smith

There would be difficulties about exempting categories, more particularly because of the possibility of comparable circumstances existing in categories which were exempted and those which were not. There is a scheme in operation for the refund of charges to those in need and my information is that this is working satisfactorily.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Are we to understand from the Minister's reply that he is unaware of the great difficulty faced by many old people in receipt of National Assistance who have to pay for their prescriptions and wait for many days for reimbursement owing to certain bureaucratic formalities? Will not the right hon. and learned Gentleman have talks with old people's welfare committees and bodies of that kind who could do a great deal to enlighten him? Is he saying that he has had no representations from my constituency on this subject, because if he has not, I can assure him that he will get some very soon?

Mr. Walker-Smith

What the hon. Gentleman refers to as "bureaucratic formalities" does not deserve that pejorative description. Persons receiving National Assistance can get a refund by presenting the form with the allowance book at the post office when drawing the National Assistance. The procedures are simple and we have had no representations that they are not working satisfactorily.

Dr. Summerskill

Is it not a fact that large numbers of chronic sick receive National Assistance and is not the simple answer to the administrative difficulties, which I recognise, that all these charges should be abolished in view of what we are told is the improved financial state of the country?

Mr. Walker-Smith

A person not in receipt of a regular grant from the National Assistance Board can apply for a refund by sending or taking the form, which he receives from the chemist supplying the drug, to the local office of the Board, and again that is a simple procedure. I stated the policy of the Government on the second point raised by the right hon. Lady during the debate on 15th July, and she and the House will recall that we will consider the question of prescription charges in the light of the position at the end of the two-year trial period of the voluntary limitation of drugs recommended by the Hinchliffe Committee.

Mr. Noel-Baker

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, and in order—

Brigadier Clarke

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The replies were the result of my Question.

Mr. Noel-Baker

—to provide an opportunity for the discussion of this specific problem, I beg to give notice that I shall endeavour to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

Mr. Speaker

I shall be obliged if hon. Members who wish to give notice of their intention to raise a matter on the Adjournment would do so by using the traditional formula and no more, as a departure from it is liable to give rise to difficulties.