Commenting on NHS England’s consultation, launched today, which proposes to rein in prescriptions for many over-the-counter products, Matina Loizou, Senior Policy and Campaigns Adviser at Parkinson’s UK and Co-Chair of the Prescription Charges Coalition, said:
 
“NHS England has decided to play the role of Ebenezer Scrooge this Christmas by launching this cruel consultation.
 
“If seen through, these proposals would be a catastrophic blow to some of the country’s most vulnerable and unwell people who rely on a variety of medication and treatments to live, work and be well.
 
“We’ve heard distressing and alarming experiences from people who are facing impossible choices over whether they should eat, heat their home or pay for essential medications. Expanding the list of products unavailable via prescription will increase the financial burden on people throughout the UK who have already suffered enough.”

To read more about the consultation, please follow this link. 

Commenting on proposals to reinstate prescription charges in Northern Ireland, Matina Loizou, Senior Policy and Campaigns Adviser at Parkinson’s UK and Co-Chair of the Prescription Charges Coalition, said:

“The reintroduction of prescription charges in Northern Ireland would be a blow to some of the country’s most vulnerable and unwell people who rely on medication to live, work and be well.

“In England, where prescription charges are still in place, we’ve heard distressing and alarming experiences from people who are facing impossible choices over whether they should eat, heat their home or pay for essential medications to treat life-threatening conditions.

“It’s a travesty that prescription charges in England are preventing people from getting the treatment they need, and alarming that Northern Ireland would consider reinstating prescription charges even in a budgetary outlook.”

For further information on the proposal, please follow this link.