§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of his decision to increase prescription charges from the present 45p to 70p from 1 April 1980, he will list in the Official Report the precise details of eligibility for exemption from charges and eligibility for prepayment certificates.
§ Dr. VaughanPrescriptions for the following people are dispensed without charge
People suffering from the following specified medical conditions:
- Children under 16.
- Women aged 60 and over.
- Men aged 65 and over.
- Expectant mothers.
- Mothers who have a child under one year of age.
- i. permanent fistula (including caecostomy, colostomy or ileostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance;
- ii. diabetes mellitus;
- iii. myxoedema;
- iv. hypoparathyroidism;
- v. hypopituitarism;
- vi. Addison's disease and other forms of hypoadrenalism;
- vii. Myasthenia gravis;
- viii. epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy;
- ix. a continuous physical disability which prevents the patient leaving his residence except with the help of another person (this does not mean a temporary disability even if it is likely to last a few months).
- War/Service pensioners (for prescriptions needed for treating their accepted disablements).
- People receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement.
- People whose income is not much above supplementary benefit level.
- People holding pre-payment certificates (season tickets).
The cost of a pre-payment certificate from 1 April 1980 will be £4.50 for four 598W months or £12 for one year. Anyone can buy a certificate, which offers good value for a person who needs more than 17 items on prescription in a year, or more than six items on prescription in four months.