§ Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Health what method of recompense has been agreed between him and the pharmacists whereby chemists will not suffer financial loss by reason of giving dressings, drugs and medicines free of charge to National Health Service patients who have no money available and are in urgent need of treatment.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodA small fixed allowance per prescription form has been agreed to cover the rare cases where the charge is irrecoverable for any reason. The chemist is not, of course, required to supply medicine, etc., unless the charge is paid.
§ Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Health what is the estimated cost during the present financial year of all the additional forms which have been brought into use in connection with the charges recently imposed for National Health Service prescriptions, surgical appliances and dental treatment.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe estimated cost for England and Wales is £4,862.
§ Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Health what are the arrangements whereby the 1s. charged for a National Health Service prescription by a dispensing medical practitioner passes from the patient to the Treasury.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAt the request of the British Medical Association it has been arranged that in these cases at the option of the patient, the charge may be paid by postage stamp. The practitioner will convert any other payments to stamps and surrender them monthly to the executive council. The value of the stamps will be transferred from Post Office funds to Ministry of Health Vote.
§ Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Health what is the cost of the posters, containing the information that financial assistance is available in cases of hardship for charges under the National Health Service, which are supplied for 47W exhibition in chemists' shops and doctors' and dentists' waiting rooms.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe estimated cost for England and Wales is £203.