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Letters to the Editor
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Prescriptions
Comments from Welsh Executive on charges
From Mr P. J. Jones, MRPharmS
Malcolm Allan (PJ, 19 November, p631) asked if the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society’s Welsh Executive had any evidence to show that the phased
elimination of prescription charges has led to frivolous use of NHS resources.
It has been difficult to draw any conclusions about the impact of the
abolition due to its phased nature over a long timescale. Full abolition
will not occur until April 2007.
The implementation so far has not been without difficulties. We will
continue to monitor the situation and engage with the Welsh Assembly
Government to highlight the practical implications of abolition. This
engagement is informed by Royal Pharmaceutical Society policy and the
comprehensive review of evidence that was commissioned by the Society.
Our views match those submitted by our colleagues in Scotland to the
Scottish Parliament.
As with all of our work streams, we will share our experiences with colleagues
in Scotland and England on an ongoing basis.
Peter Jones
Chairman
Welsh Executive,
Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Scottish Executive discusses prescription charges
From Ms A. T. Timoney, MRPharmS
Malcolm Allan (PJ, 19 November, p631) asks for evidence that the phased
elimination of prescription charges leads to frivolous use of NHS resources.
In his letter he seems to suggest that all pharmacy organisations represented
at the Health Committee of the Scottish Parliament opposed Colin Fox’s
Bill. This is not true — the views he quotes are from the Scottish
Pharmaceutical Federation. There is diversity of opinion within pharmacy
and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s views were clearly stated.
The Society commissioned a review of evidence both within the UK and
internationally. This concluded that many questions remained unanswered.
For this reason, when I spoke at the Health Committee meeting of the
Scottish Parliament, I pointed out our view that further research is
required and the consequences of abolition of prescription charges on
patients, the public and NHS professionals must be considered. It is
our view that the current system is both illogical and unfair but any
replacement must improve the situation.
This issue is complex and for this reason we organised a briefing session
in June of this year for members of the Scottish Parliament and their
researchers, with the Royal College of General Practitioners. In this
session, in our written reply to the consultation, and at the Health
Committee meeting, we repeated our view that where total abolition is
contemplated we would advise that this should also be accompanied by
measures to reduce any negative impacts, such as increased pharmacy and
GP workloads, the potential to undermine minor ailments schemes and moves
to increase reclassification of medicines.
Mr Allan is right to say that we must learn from experience in Wales.
The issue of prescription charges will come back to the Scottish Parliament
as the Government has committed to a review of exemption for those in
full-time education and people with long-term medical conditions.
The Society’s Scottish Department will contribute to this discussion
and continue to work with our colleagues in Wales to ensure that lessons
learnt there can be shared across Great Britain.
Angela Timoney
Chairman Scottish Executive,
Royal Pharmaceutical Society
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Pharmaceutical Journal