Oral Answers to Questions

Mary Glindon Excerpts

Tuesday 26th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, I supported and indeed participated in the decision to ensure that access was made legal in the autumn, and I am working right now on trying to make sure that some of the challenges in the system are unblocked. Ultimately, these things have to be clinician led, but my sympathy is with those who are campaigning, whom I have met, because I know of the anguish that this problem is causing.

[Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab)]

5. What assessment he has made of the effect of prescription charges on the health and wellbeing of people with asthma.

[The Minister for Care (Caroline Dinenage)]

Extensive arrangements are already in place to help people afford NHS prescriptions. Those include a broad range of prescription charge exemptions, for which somebody with asthma may apply.

[Mary Glindon]

More than 90% of people on low incomes say they struggle to afford their prescriptions, and 71% told Asthma UK they skipped their asthma medication due to cost. Given the health inequalities in this country, will the Minister investigate that injustice?

[Caroline Dinenage]

People on low incomes who do not qualify for an exemption may be eligible for either full or partial help with prescription charges through the NHS low-income scheme. In addition, for those who do not qualify for that, the prescription pre-payment certificate is available, under which everybody can get all the prescriptions they need for only £2 a week.