HC Deb 28 May 1971 vol 818 cc262-71W
Mr. Arthur Lewis (West Ham, North)

To ask 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 the cost of the prescription, graded in 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 the cost of the prescription, graded in 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 the cost of the prescription, graded in 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 the cost of the prescription, graded in 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p per prescription;

(9) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from from Menière's 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 gen eral 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 the cost of the prescription, graded in 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 the cost of the prescription, graded in 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 event of a system of payment being instituted in which the patient would pay half the cost of the prescription, graded in 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 the cost of the prescription, graded in 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25 p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10 and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 of the cost of the prescription, graded in 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 of the cost of the prescription, graded in 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p per prescription;

(34) what is his estimate of the cost to a chronically sick patient suffering from schizohprenia 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p per prescription;

(36) what is he 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p per prescription;

(37) what is his stimate 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 prescriptions, graded in 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10 and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10 and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p 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 2½p steps, with a minimum charge of 10p and a maximum of 25p per prescription.

Sir K. Joseph

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt) on 25th May.—[Vol. 818, c.72–81.]

Mr. Concannon

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what basis he compiled the income table contained in Leaflet P.C.11 and the example of income for free prescriptions for a married couple at £16.45.

Mr. Dean

The illustrative income limit for a married couple is made up as follows:

£
Requirements of man and wife:
(i) Personal requirements 8.50
(ii) Rent and rates 2.35
Additional statutory requirement 0.30
Cost of one prescription 0.20
Expenses in connection with employment 0.35
"Disregard" on earnings 2.00
Net income level 13.70
National Insurance (flat rate) contribution 0.88
Graduated contribution 0.35
Income Tax 1.52
Gross income level 16.45
The income table refers to "gross earnings" and the assumptions about rent and fares are set out clearly.