HC Deb 07 February 1983 vol 36 cc260-1W
Mr. McMahon

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the medical conditions which now exempt patients from prescription charges under the National Health Service.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The specified medical conditions which confer exemption from prescription charges are:

  1. (i) permanent fistula (including caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance;
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  2. (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;
  3. (iii) epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy;
  4. (iv) a continuing physical disability which prevents the patient from leaving his residence without the help of another person.