Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure prescriptions are affordable and accessible for those who (a) have been furloughed or (b) are awaiting access to universal credit.

A broad range of National Health Service prescription charge exemptions are in place to help those with greatest need, including those on a low income.

The new FP10 NHS prescription form, which includes a tick box for Universal Credit claimants who meet the criteria for free prescriptions, has been in use since January. If a patient is waiting for a decision on their claim they should pay for their prescription and claim a refund of the charge from the NHS Business Services Authority once notified of their award by the Department for Work and Pensions.