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Written question asked by Julie Cooper (Labour) on Wednesday, 3 July 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 July 2019. It was answered by Seema Kennedy (Conservative) on Friday, 12 July 2019 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on wellbeing of prescription penalty charge notices.

Answer

The Department has made no formal assessment. Extensive arrangements are already in place to help people afford National Health Service prescriptions. These include a broad range of NHS prescription charge exemptions, for which someone with a chronic illness may qualify.

To support those with greatest need who do not qualify for an exemption, cost of the prescription pre-payment certificates were frozen for another year. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just £2 per week.

Prescription charges are a valuable source of income for the NHS, contributing just over £575 million in revenue in the financial year 2017/18 alone. This funding is particularly important given the increasing demands on the NHS.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
272869
Session
2017-19
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Fees and charges Fines Prescriptions
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk