Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of prescription charges on the ability of people with long-term medical conditions to manage their condition effectively.

No such assessment has been made. However, a number of prescription charge exemptions are in place, for which someone with a long-term condition may qualify. These include exemptions based on low income, such as certain out of work benefits and the NHS Low Income Scheme, and age. Where someone does not qualify for exemption, Prescription Prepayment Certificates are available. The three-month and 12-month certificates allow someone to claim as many prescriptions as they need for £29.10 and £104, respectively.