§ 82. Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Health whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the answer he has sent to the representations made to him by the chemists on the difficulties they were experiencing with the reintroduction of prescription charges.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe text of the letter from my Department to the Central Chemist Contractors Committee is as follows:
19th July, 1968.
Prescription Charges: Exemption Scheme
Thank you for your letter of 26th June.
2.I was sorry to learn of the trouble that chemist contractors have been having during the first weeks after the reintroduction of prescription charges, and we are very grateful for the help which they have been giving to patients. We had realised that it might take a little while for the public (to become familiar with the details of the scheme, but I would expect the situation to improve fairly quickly as the arrangements become more generally understood.
3. I agree that the lay-out of the reverse of the E.C. 10 needs improvement, and we had in fact already been considering what might be done. The present version had to be produced in great haste, and it seemed to us at the time that the explanatory material ought to be included. I agree that it could now be omitted. If this is done, the declaration itself can be set out much more clearly. On all these matters we are in broad agreement with the points made in the fourth paragraph of your letter and with the type of lay-out shown in the attachment. We hope shortly to show you what we have in mind, and could then discuss it with you if you wish. (But you will of course realise that the time needed for printing and distribution will mean that the new type of form will not be ready for use for some little while.)
4.As regards remuneration, the position is that the increase which was agreed for the period 10th June to 31st August was intended as an average recompense for difficulties which were expected to be a good deal greater at the beginning than at the end of the period. It seems to us rather early to say that we jointly under-estimated the amount of extra work over the whole period; but we are of course willing to meet you to discuss your claim for a re-opening of the settlement previously reached, and 30th July, 1st, 6th or 13th August would be possible dates for those concerned here.
5. You already have the Minister's assurance, in Mr. Warner's letter of 26th April, that he will take the Committee's views about the long-term arrangements fully into account. There are many difficulties here, including the cost of alternative schemes and the long period 82W of preparation most of them would need before they would become effective, as well as their acceptability to the public and the professions most closely concerned. Before far-reaching changes are contemplated, the Minister considers that it would be wise to obtain as much experience as possible in the operation of the present arrangements, which we shall of course try to improve wherever possible so as to secure their smooth running. Any suggestions you may have in this direction will be welcome.
§ Mr. R. W. Elliottasked the Minister of Health if he will make regulations exempting tuberculosis sufferers from prescription charges.
§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister of Health whether he will exempt from the payment of prescription charges those patients who have been discharged from mental hospitals and who need regular prescriptions for drugs to enable them to live a normal life in the community.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI would refer the hon. Members to what I said on 10th July when considering the Lords Amendments to the Health Services and Public Health Bill.—[Vol. 768, c. 695.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the Government's policy of balancing Great Britain's trading account by the end of the year, he will end prescription charges, which were introduced as part of that policy during the current year.
§ Mr. SnowNo. It would be unrealistic to suppose that need for the revenue from these charges has come to an end.