National Health Service (Charges)

HC Deb 16 November 1964 vol 702 cc27-8

36. Sir D. Walker-Smith

asked the Minister of Health if he will specify the appliances and services for which charges are made to patients within the National Health Service and the amount in respect of each.

Mr. Robinson

As the list contains a number of detailed figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir D. Walker-Smith

Would the right hon. Gentleman also deal with the question of his policy in regard to dental and optical appliances in respect of which charges are imposed arising out of the National Health Service Act, 1951, and would he agree that special importance attaches to this, as this was the issue on which the present Prime Minister broke with his then Labour colleagues?

Mr. Robinson

The Labour Party said during the election that it was our intention to restore completely a free National Health Service as rapidly as possible. That remains my policy, and as an earnest of that the prescription charges are going to be withdrawn shortly.

Following is the list— The principal charges made to patients for appliances and services supplied under the National Health Service are:—

Pharmaceutical Services—

• 2s. 0d. an item.
• 5s. 0d.—10s. 0d. for elastic hosiery.

General Dental Services—

• Dentures—charges ranging from £2 5s. 0d. to £5 (representing about half the cost of the dentures).
• Dental treatment—a charge of £1, or the full cost, whichever is the less.

Supplementary Ophthalmic Services— 12s. 6d. for a single vision lens (£1 for a bi-focal lens). Applicants are also required to pay the whole cost of the frame.

Hospital Services— For amenity beds:

• Accommodation in a single room 24s. 0d. a day.
• Accommodation in a small ward with two or more beds 12s. 0d. a day.

(Private patients pay the full cost.) For drugs and appliances supplied:

• 2s. 0d. an item.
• 5s. 0d.—10s. 0d. for elastic hosiery.
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• £3 0s. 0d. for surgical boots or shoes, per pair.
• £1 0s. 0d. for surgical abdominal supports.
• £2 10s. 0d. each for wigs of any type.
• 13s. 6d.—1s. 6d. for certain repairs to surgical boots and shoes.

No charge is made where the drug or appliance supplied to a war pensioner is for an accepted disablement.

Local Health Authority Services—Variable charges for goods and services, mainly in respect of Care of Mothers and Young Children, Prevention of Illness, Care and Aftercare, and Domestic Help. These charges may not exceed cost.

Note: Certain classes of patients. i.e. expectant and nursing mothers, children up to the age 16 and children receiving full-time school education, are exempt from denture and dental treatment charges; other persons under age 21 are exempt from dental treatment charges. Children are exempt from charges for spectacle lenses and frames when the latter are in the National Health Service children's range and for lenses where these are supplied in frames from the National Health Service adult range.