GPs and nurses support call for reform of prescription charge system

It was very encouraging to see support from senior GPs for reform of the system for prescription charges following the release of DTB's survey.

The chairman of the British Medical Association's GP clinical and prescribing subcommittee, Dr Andrew Green  told the publication  GP:   

‘There is simply no rhyme nor reason to the exemption system, the origins of which are lost in the dark ages.  
All GPs will be aware of patients who have not completed treatment courses due to difficulties with payment, and the scheme turns dispensing doctors and pharmacists into tax collectors.’

Read the full article here 

The Nursing Times also featured the  survey with a piece headlined "Practice nurses back overhaul of English script charging system".

Kay Boycott, Chief Executive of Asthma UK, is quoted:

"Any barrier to life-saving medication has the potential to  put the lives of people with asthma as risk."

A nurse commented that:

"People often don't get all their inhalers as they cannot always afford them, hence they often have poor control over their asthma/COPD."

Read the full article here