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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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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 decision | Local 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. |
| 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. |