HC Deb 09 March 1955 vol 538 cc63-4W
Mr. B. Taylor

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the services and appliances under the National Health Service for which a charge is made, and the amount for each service and appliance.

Mr. Iain Macleod

For dentures provided under the General Dental Service the charges are:—

£ s. d.
1, 2 or 3 teeth 2 0 0
4 to 8 teeth 2 5 0
More than 8 teeth 2 10 0
Maximum for two dentures 4 5 0

Charges of up to £1 (persons under 21 and expectant and nursing mothers are exempt) are made for a course of dental treatment not involving dentures. The maximum combined charge for all types of dental treatment, including dentures, is £4 5s. 0d.

For spectacles, the charges are 10s. 0d. for each lens and, in addition, the cost of the frame, with exemption from both charges for (a) hospital in-patients and (b) children under 16 or receiving full-time schooling, who have glasses in a special children's frame.

For drugs and appliances (except elastic hosiery) supplied on the prescription of a medical or dental practitioner, the charge is 1s. 0d. for items ordered on any prescription form, or supplied on any one occasion by a doctor who dispenses for his patients. Charges for elastic hosiery are either 5s. 0d. or 10s. 0d. according to size.

Hospital out-patients are charged 1s. 0d.for each prescription for drugs and medicines and the following amounts for appliances:

£ s. d.
Surgical boots or shoes, a pair 3 0 0
Surgical abdominal supports, each 1 0 0
Elastic hosiery, each, according to size 0 5 0
or
0 10 0
Wigs, each 2 10 0
Certain repairs to surgical foot-wear, a pair from 0 1 6
to
0 13 6

Exempted from these hospital charges are war pensioners, when the article supplied is in respect of their "accepted disability," and persons in receipt of National Assistance. In addition, children under 16 or in full-time attendance at school are exempted from the charges for appliances, and patients under treatment for venereal diseases are not charged for drugs or medicines supplied in connection with the treatment.

Local Health Authorities may also charge at their discretion for the following services: residential accommodation, day nurseries, food and articles provided as part of the arrangements for the care of mothers and young children, arrangements for the prevention of illness and the care and after-care of persons suffering from illness, and domestic help.