§ Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what specified medical conditions now exempt sufferers from prescription charges under the National Health Service.
§ Dr. VaughanThe list of specified medical conditions which confer exemption from prescription charges are:
- i. permanent fistula (including caecostomy, colostomy or ileostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance;
- ii. the following disorders for which specific substitution therapy is essential:
- Addison's disease and other forms of hypoadrenalism,
- diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism,
- diabetes mellitus,
- hypoparathyroidism,
- myasthenia gravis,
- myxoedema;
- iii. epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy;
- iv. a continuing physical disability which prevents the patient from leaving his residence without the help of another person.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what change there has been in the number of prescriptions being taken up by the public following the increase in prescription charges to £1.
§ Dr. VaughanIn the three months from September to November 1980, there were 81.0 million prescriptions dispensed in England and Wales and this rose to 81.9 million in the three months following the increase in the prescription charge from 70p to £1 on 1 December. Judging from trends over a five-year period, seasonal factors have often produced a greater increase in numbers of prescriptions dispensed but it is not possible to estimate what part of the change in numbers is due to the increase in prescription charges.