§ 11. Mr. Elwyn Jonesasked the Minister of Health what will be the estimated annual cost to a diabetic patient of insulin, cotton wool, spirit, syringes and needles on the basis of a payment of one shilling for each item prescribed.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThe cost will depend on the number of occasions on which the doctor considers it necessary to see the patient and to order medicaments, and might vary between 17s. and £1 7s. a year in the case of the stabilised patient.
§ 18. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Health if he will issue medical prescription forms of a different colour to old-age pensioners so that their prescriptions become free and so avoid the hardship of their having to pay the extra fee and the additional work of repaying the fee to the two-thirds of the old-age pensioners who are in receipt of National 44W Assistance, and who are therefore entitled to reclaim prescription fees.
§ Mr. TurtonWhile it is the Government's intention that the charge should be refunded to all to whom it would be a hardship on the standards adopted by the National Assistance Board, many old-age pensioners do not fall into this category. Moreover it is impracticable to identify in advance those entitled to reclaim the charge.