800,000 fail to collect prescriptions
27 February 2008

Asthma UK has called for an urgent review of the prescription charging system in England, after a survey commissioned by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau found that around 800,000 people failed to collect a prescription last year because of the cost involved.

The CAB warns that not being able to afford prescription charges means many poorer people with long-term health problems are not getting the treatment they need and are putting their health at risk.

Neil Churchill, Chief Executive of Asthma UK, said: ‘People with asthma have consistently told us this is one of the most important issues they want the Government to address and yet the Government has delayed its proposed consultation on reform since Autumn 2007.
 
‘Almost 1.8 million people with asthma currently pay for their prescriptions in England, yet nearly half tell us they find it a struggle to afford them and a third have to regularly make the decision to not take their medicines. At the same time, people with other long-term conditions receive their treatment free on the NHS. This situation appears to be random and completely unfair.
 
‘Many people are also unaware about how to pay for their prescriptions with a pre-payment certificate, which can help them save money but is poorly publicised in comparison to other Government initiatives such as social security benefits.
 
‘People with asthma who do not take their medicines as prescribed can suffer from life-threatening asthma symptoms, which can lead to frequent emergency hospital visits and is also costly to the NHS.
 
We urge the Government to take action now and reform a system that is unfair, inequitable and unsustainable.’