Time for Gordon Brown to say if he supports free prescriptions

In September 2008, Gordon Brown promised to abolish prescription charges for people with long-term conditions. He asked Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians, to conduct a review into how this could be achieved. Professor Gilmore completed his review last autumn and his report was on ministers’ desks before Christmas.

The review was commissioned before the bottom dropped out of the UK economy. But the public purse is not the only one feeling the pressure. A significant proportion of people with asthma have told us that they are going without important medicines because they cannot afford the cost of all of their drugs. Even with the Pre-Payment Certificate, repeat drugs are a burden for people on low and modest incomes.

Now, with an election in sight, we need to know where Gordon Brown stands on his promise. Free prescriptions always tops the list when we consult people with asthma about their priorities for change. Neil Gerrard MP has tabled the following Early Day Motion in Parliament. Now is the time to make your views known. Please contact your MP  – in writing, by email or by phone – and ask him or her to support it. And let us know what response you get.

EDM 306 - free prescriptions for people with long-term conditions
That this House supports the Prescription Promise campaign in urging the Prime Minister to implement his promise, made in September 2008, to abolish prescription charges for people with long-term conditions as soon as possible; believes that timely access to appropriate medication is crucial in order to minimise the impact of living with a long-term condition for the individual and to minimise the cost of treating long-term conditions for the NHS; is therefore concerned that the recession has made it harder for large numbers of people with long-term conditions to pay for their prescriptions and that many are going without vital medicines; notes that the Government has identified savings from the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme of around £550 million per year from 2010, which will be more than sufficient to cover the £250-£350 million cost, estimated by the Department of Health, of implementing free prescriptions for people with long-term conditions; further notes with concern that Professor Ian Gilmore's review of prescription charges has not yet been published; and calls on the Government to publish this review and its own response as soon as possible.

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