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Patients hit by prescription move Patients hit by prescription move
(about 3 hours later)
A health authority's move to stop patients wasting medication by issuing smaller amounts with each prescription is unfair, a patient group has said.A health authority's move to stop patients wasting medication by issuing smaller amounts with each prescription is unfair, a patient group has said.
NHS Leicester City has advised GPs to limit most prescriptions to 28 days.NHS Leicester City has advised GPs to limit most prescriptions to 28 days.
But Leicester Patients Group said asking patients to pay the £7.10 fee more often is too costly.But Leicester Patients Group said asking patients to pay the £7.10 fee more often is too costly.
The health authority said unused drugs cost it more than £5.15m in 2006-07, but that cost dropped to £2.6m in 2007-08.The health authority said unused drugs cost it more than £5.15m in 2006-07, but that cost dropped to £2.6m in 2007-08.
Zuffar Haq, chairman of Leicester Patient's Group, said: "It is costing them (patients) more money because every medication costs £7.10 - previously they were getting prescriptions for three months but now for one month.Zuffar Haq, chairman of Leicester Patient's Group, said: "It is costing them (patients) more money because every medication costs £7.10 - previously they were getting prescriptions for three months but now for one month.
"So they are paying £7.10 for a third of the medication they were getting before."So they are paying £7.10 for a third of the medication they were getting before.
"With the current credit crunch we have heard of cases where people have not taken their medicine because they simply cannot afford the medication.""With the current credit crunch we have heard of cases where people have not taken their medicine because they simply cannot afford the medication."
Local decisionLocal decision
Since early 2008, the PCT has encouraged GPs to ensure patients do not get more than 28 days worth of medication to reduce wastage.Since early 2008, the PCT has encouraged GPs to ensure patients do not get more than 28 days worth of medication to reduce wastage.
Leicester GP Angela Lennox has supported the move but added that GPs need to be flexible and take personal circumstances into consideration.Leicester GP Angela Lennox has supported the move but added that GPs need to be flexible and take personal circumstances into consideration.
She said: "There is not one size fits all. But the vast majority of people do not pay for prescriptions."She said: "There is not one size fits all. But the vast majority of people do not pay for prescriptions."
The Department of Health said clinicians have responsibility for the prescriptions they issue to their patients and it would be for local PCTs to issue any guidance on this matter.The Department of Health said clinicians have responsibility for the prescriptions they issue to their patients and it would be for local PCTs to issue any guidance on this matter.
The department said 88% of prescription items were already dispensed free of charge.The department said 88% of prescription items were already dispensed free of charge.
The PCT said if patients need more than five prescription items in four months or more than 14 in one year, they can save money by buying a prescription prepayment certificate for £34.65 for four months and £95.30 for 12 months. Lesley Gant, senior pharmacist at Leicester City PCT, said: "We are constantly looking at ways to deliver better and more effective patient care. Unused medicines around the home can be dangerous, especially if there are children in the home.
"Wasted medicines means wasted money. They can't be used again and if we could save some of that money we could reinvest it in other areas of healthcare," she added.
A PCT spokesperson added if patients needed more than five prescription items in four months or more than 14 in one year, they could save money by buying a prescription prepayment certificate for £34.65 for four months and £95.30 for 12 months.
Prescription charges have been scrapped in Wales and are in the process of being phased out in Scotland.Prescription charges have been scrapped in Wales and are in the process of being phased out in Scotland.