§ 5. Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will amend the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations so as to grant a one-year exemption from prescription charges to any woman whose child is either stillborn or dies within the first year of birth.
§ Mr. AlisonNo, Sir. Much as I sympathise with these mothers, the existing arrangements already ensure that exemption is available for anyone who cannot afford to pay the charge for any prescriptions she may need.
§ Mr. SteelWill the hon. Gentleman look at this matter more sympathetically? Is he aware that considerable distress can be caused to a woman who, having lost a child, must hand back her exemption certificate, although she may be in need of prescriptions which she might not have needed had the unhappy incident of losing the child not occurred? Is he aware that the dental regulations take no account of the possible death of the child but allow exemption for a full year after delivery, whether or not the child survives?
§ Mr. AlisonMothers who undergo this tragic experience are not very likely to need considerable medicament following the still-birth or loss of a child. As I told the hon. Gentleman, there are wide-ranging exemptions for those for whom any financial hardship arises from the loss of prescription rights through the stillbirth or loss of a child.