Nhs Funding Review For Gluten-Free Food

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-39413915

This is about NHS England, although I am guessing that its the same here in Wales.

I am not sure about gluten-free, but I can't understand why things like paracetamol are available on prescription in the first place. It can be obtained very cheaply pretty well anywhere and only cost a few pence for a packet.

I am big fan of the NHS but surely this is an area where it could be saving some money ?

EDIT: I've created a poll on this subject over here - AB Editor

[Togo]

Sam@12:54.

You were not far off point there Sam. A "spokesperson" has just been on the 1pm news, BBC rad2, and stated that a gluten free loaf of bread is £6.00. My first thought, before reading your tongue in cheek post, was..... that'll be the ones that the NHS is charged for then.

[Samjenko]

It was someone on the BBC said it cost the NHS £40:00 per loaf.
I can imagine.

[New Judge]

“You are only allowed to buy 32 tablets at a time,…”

Yes and like most other “nanny-state” legislation it is a complete farce. It is presumably in place to stop people harming themselves (or others) with an overdose. Well anybody wanting to do themselves in would not need many more that 32 tablets and certainly not more than 64. Two visits to the Boots ten minutes apart and that’s that. Meanwhile all it does is causes inconvenience to those who want to buy them because they have to take them regularly or (as has been mentioned) a trip to the chemist involves an overnight stop.

Yet another example of petty, interfering legislation which provides no benefits but causes considerable inconvenience.

Normal food (e.g. “gluten free”, “lactose free” etc.) should not be provided on prescription unless the patient has a serious condition which requires specialist drugs or additives. Many people have minor food intolerances and allergies. They are not ill; we’re all different. They simply have to feed themselves as best they can.

[emmie]

my GP sent me dozens of boxes of codeine tablets for pain relief. I don't use them because they are useless, but i was annoyed when i wanted to buy some paracetamol from waitrose and they wouldn't sell me two boxes.

[Peter Pedant]

I cant remember what the standard charge is
but if you are liable to pay it
then you are advised to buy paracetamol over the counter

which I do

however - people who need it and ear it like munchies are limited to 6 per go over the counter.

Prescroption charges are a charged ( ha ha ! ) subject
Harold Wilson resigned in protest when they were first brought in ( 1/- I think ) in erm 1950

[mikey4444]

I have been out all day and only just got in.

Isn't it nice that we have near 100% agreement on a subject !

I have a certain sympathy with gluten-free and coeliacs disease, although perhaps they should qualify for free scrips but a reasonable amount for them to pay, say 50%.

People are correct in that here in Wales, scrips are free at the point of issue. I'm not sure how we got to the stage where we are issuing free scrips for things like mundane things like paracetamol, Hactos, etc, etc, but its high time it was stopped, as they are so cheap to buy anywhere these days.

I will follow Ed's new straw Poll with interest !

[woofgang]

what on earth are Hactos?

[mikey4444]

Cough medicine Woofy

http://www.hactos.co.uk/our-product

[Old_Geezer]

There should be a clear definition as to what is a prescription item and what is simply advice on how to self treat. Advice should not be paid for by prescription, genuine medical prescription should be free at the point of delivery throughout the UK (the pharmacist usually delivers at their counter) paid for by taxation, rather than expect folk to cover the cost of illness they didn't deliberately catch/whatever. It's not a life choice.

It seems the NHS/Government is getting it wrong on both halves. They charge for prescriptions for much of the population yet pass out free stuff which is a) questionable as medicine, and b) bought cheaper directly rather than through the NHS system.

And they ought to cover dental as that is medical too, and optician bills for the basic needs. Again it isn't a life choice, it is a medical issue.

[Sqad]

O_G

"They charge for prescriptions for much of the population "

No they don't and therein lies the rub, the majority, vast majority of prescriptions about 85% + are FREE to the patient.
That clearly is nonsense.

[wolf63]

The fish and chip shop down the road from my house does a 'gluten free' Sunday once a month. I wonder if the NHS will pay for this.

Prescriptions are free in Scotland and I don't agree with that. If we are to get good service from the NHS we have to pay more money in.

It's not until you have to pay for the drugs on a private prescription that you realise the cost of some of them.

[Old_Geezer]

It was just me paying then ?

[clairson59]

I can understand, to a degree, prescriptions for gluten free stuff for coeliacs if they are on low incomes, given the ridiculous prices charged for basic products in supermarkets which make them unaffordable for some people. E.g. £3 for a small loaf of bread or a packet of biscuits. I know because though not a coeliac, I am allergic to gluten (I buy my own gluten free). Until this subject came to press I didn't know you could get sun-tan cream on the NHS. IMO if you want to burn yourself in the sun you should buy your own suncream. You can buy paracetamol for pennies in supermarkets so they should not be provided on the NHS.

[mikey4444]

On the subject of free scrips, this was a promise made in Wales a few years ago. The cost was was slowly brought down, until it was done away with altogether.

Leaving aside the lunacy of prescribing everyday things like sun creams and bread, I am in favour of free medicine for real ills. I may be old fashioned, but I think that the NHS should be free at the point of delivery. I have paid a fortune in taxes over the years, so why should I pay for medicines that keep me alive ?

[jno]

Hactos contains chloroform and ether? That should save the NHS money on anaesthetics for operations then

[Mamyalynne]

Before we get too carried away with the notion that things such as suntan preps are simply for those going on their hols , we need the whole story.

Gumboils (on the linked thread , Ed's Poll)

//sunscreen is used for a number of dermatological conditions including Tuberous Sclerosis. The latter is a dreadful disease and I have a friend who has contracted a brain tumour which is typical under the circumstances. He is only in his late twenties and the prognosis is grim.//


Of course there are savings to be made - my monthly 'goody bag' contains nothing that can be bought over the counter.