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No Prescription Fee! Let's All Go to See the Doctor

Posted on: Thursday, 23 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By MADELEINE BRINDLEY Western Mail

The abolition of prescription fees in Wales could see GP surgeries swamped by patients demanding free medicines. Doctors have raised concerns the flagship Welsh Assembly Government policy could see a huge rise in patients seeking appointments just to get a free pres- cription to save a few pounds on over-the-counter medicines. This, it is feared, could make it harder for the genuinely ill to get to see a doctor. And a number of GPs in Gwent are worried that the notion of self-care will disappear along with the current pounds 4 prescription fee. The Assembly Government is committed to abolishing prescription fees for everyone in Wales by 2007. The cost of each prescription for the 15% of the population who still pay the fee will fall to pounds 3 later this year. In England patients have to pay pounds 6.50 per medicine or prescription item dispensed by pharmacists. The move has attracted almost universal welcome as it means everyone will be able to afford their medication

. But a motion by Gwent Local Medical Committee, to be discussed at a meeting of GPs next month, raises several concerns about the policy. It states that free prescriptions will cause increased workloads for GPs and their staff and reduce the time available for the real work of general practice. Doctors have previously raised concerns that the introduction of free prescriptions would see patients clogging up GP appointments to get a prescription for common medicines such as Calpol or even Paracetamol or Ibuprofen. But Dr David Bailey, a GP in Trethomas and a member of the British Medical Association's GP negotiating panel, said, 'This is probably an over-hyped concern because 85% of patients already don't pay for prescriptions. The 15% who do - working adults - tend to be the lowest users of prescription medicines and the fittest people. 'The people who already get free prescriptions are those who get the most sickness, either by reason of poverty or by age.' The Welsh Assembly Government and Community Pharmacy Wales are working on a project that will see pharmacists take a greater role in caring and helping people with minor injuries, helping to ease the pressure on GPs. And the introduction of independent prescribing in Wales in the future, which will see some nurses and pharmacists able to prescribe drugs to patients will also help ease demand for doctors appointments. A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said, 'Introducing free prescriptions is the simplest way to ensure that those people who need medicines but who may be put off by the cost of prescriptions get the medicine they need. 'This is most effective way of resolving inconsistencies that exist in prescribing to benefit everyone, especially those who are chronically ill or on low incomes.': Influx fears dispelled:Fears that free prescriptions could lead to an influx of health tourists from England have been allayed with the introduction of a new prescription form. The bilingual form was launched in August and only patients who have received the form from their doctor will benefit from the lower prescription fee in Wales. It had been feared that patients from England would cross the border to save more than pounds 2 per item on their prescriptions.

Source: Western Mail

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