HC Deb 25 May 1971 vol 818 cc72-81W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from bronchial asthma of each prescription given on Form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(2) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from chronic bronchitis of each prescription given on Form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(3) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from emphysema of each prescription given on Form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(4) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis of each prescription given on Form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(5) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from chronic tonsillitis of each prescription given on Form E.C. 10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(6) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from chronic sinusitis of each prescription given on Form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(7) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from chronic otitis media and externa of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(8) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from chronic labyrinthitis of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(9) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from Menière's Disease of each prescription given on from E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(10) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from vertigo of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(11) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from deafness of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(12) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from mouth ulcers of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(13) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from chronic eczema of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the even of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(14) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from chronic skin sensitivities of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(15) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from chronic psoriasis of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(16) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from chronic fungus infections of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(17) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from chronic seborrheic dermatitis of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(18) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from hiatus hernia of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(19) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from peptic ulcer of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(20) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from duodenal ulcer of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(21) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from nervous dyspepsia of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(22) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from ulcerative colitis of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(23) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from piles not needing an operation of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(24) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from chronic urinary infection of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the norman quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(25) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from genito-urinary fistula of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(26) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from vaginitis of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(27) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from venereal disease of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(28) what is his estimate of the cost to the chronically sick patient suffering from Batholinitis of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(29) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from urethritis of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(30) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from a psychogenic anxiety state of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(31) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from a personality disorder of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(32) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from psychogenic depression of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(33) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from manic depressive illness of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(34) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from schizophrenia of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(35) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(36) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from osteo-arthritis of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(37) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from skeleto-muscular recurrent muscle pain of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(38) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from backache of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(39) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from intermittent claudication of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(40) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from cardiac insufficiency of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(41) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from left-sided cardiac failure of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(42) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from cor pulmonale of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(43) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from hypertension of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(44) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from dysmenorrhoea of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription;

(45) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from menopause of each prescription given on form E.C.10, assuming that the general practitioner prescribes the normal quantities, in the event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half of the cost of the prescription, graded in 5p steps, with a minimum charge of 20p and a maximum of 50p per prescription.

Sir K. Joseph

It would be misleading to attempt such estimates because the nature and quantity of the drugs prescribed will vary according to a doctor's judgment of the clinical needs of individual patients. No charges are payable by patients covered by the wide categories of exemption, including those on supplementary benefit or living at a little above that level; and the prepayment certificate is available for people who need frequent prescriptions but are not otherwise exempt.