Heart patients should get free prescriptions

27 May 2010

An important review has concluded that heart patients and people with other long-term health conditions in England shouldn't have to pay for their prescriptions.

Heart patients in Wales and Northern Ireland already get free prescriptions while heart patients in Scotland will have charges lifted from April 2011.

People with other conditions, such as diabetes and epilepsy already benefit from a UK-wide exemption.

Review author Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians, concluded:

• Everyone who fits within a broad definition of long-term condition, such as six months’ continuous management that could include medication, should be exempt from charges after approval from their doctor
• The Government should consider bringing in the changes as soon as possible so they can start to benefit patients
• Free prescriptions should be phased in by reducing the costs of pre-payment certificates
• New exemptions should be for the person rather than their condition.
• The Government has said any decisions will need to be taken in the context of the autumn spending review.

Betty McBride, Director of Policy and Communications, at the British Heart Foundation, said:

"Ian Gilmore’s review is great news for heart patients. His report sets out a viable roadmap for Government on how to phase out charges for people with long-term conditions without burdening the NHS with unaffordable extra costs.

"It’s vital that heart patients continue to take prescribed medication to keep them healthy. This is even more important in the current financial climate as preventative action avoids more costly medical treatment and hospital stays.

"We look forward to seeing ministerial action on this point in the autumn spending review so heart patients in England can stop facing financial worries and simply focus on getting well."

Find out more

We believe you shouldn't have to pay for prescriptions if your a heart patient, someone living with heart disease, or at risk of heart disease.

Read the Government's review of prescription charges.

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