NHS to cut costs
 

NHS England has announced plans to curb the prescription of "low-priority" items.... including

Blood glucose testing strips - for diabetes
Needles for pre-filled and reusable insulin pens - for diabetes

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-46361639

How the hell did they decide that testing strips and needles are "low priority" ? :confused:

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

They have already done it with my brother about 9 months ago so the horse has already bolted there sadly Taf.

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

However prescribing gluten free foods on the NHS when they're now readily available is a sensible thing IMHO.

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

Think they are suggesting there's a cheaper alternative, not sure what. My wife is diabetic but there's no way the GP will prescribe test strips anyway, she has to buy her own. Not cheap either.

It is time some things were removed from prescriptions,. they are costing a fortune and cheaper to buy direct e.g paracetamol, bath emollient, silk clothes for eczema etc. Too many that qualify for free prescriptions are milking the system think they can demand everything, and those that do pay are paying too much to subsidise them.

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

Readily available that is for sure but with that comes the extortionate prices many retailers charge for gluten free products.

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

Rice and potatoes are not that expensive.

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

Gluten free Bread at £3 a loaf is though.

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

£2 at Asda, and Tesco has it reduced from £2.10 ot £1.50...

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

Let them eat cake:Sprint:

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

It very much depends on what type of loaf one gets Hugh as yes some are cheaper but others are dearer.


https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/...egoryFacetId1=

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

The article explains:

'In the case of the diabetes testing strips, needles and pens, officials are proposing that GPs prescribe more cost-effective alternatives rather than scrapping them'.

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

I always wondered why Paracetamol was available on prescription when you can get it cheaply (30p from Sainsburys IIRC). Then, I had pancreatitis, and when recovering, one of the medications the doctor prescribed was Paracetamol . I got it in packs of 100, and I did need that many. The packs in the shops are limited to 15.

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

Well you can't take more than 8 a day, so you're talking 15p a day, as opposed to 71p under prescription. Mind you if I had pancreatitis I'd want something a lot stronger !

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

In the shops now you can only buy two packs of sixteen paracetamol and that is all you can get as they won't sell you any more then that but obviously a way around that is go to another supermarket to get some more or send a family member to get to buy some more..

Re: NHS to cut costs
 

The Welsh Assembly put forward an idea that there should only be ONE brand of diabetic needles, injectors, test strips, test meters, etc., supplied by NHS Wales. Supposedly to make savings by "economies of scale". But researchers came up blank on any savings at all, so the idea was shelved.

The reintroduction of Prescription Charges was also looked at, but it was again found that the admin cost was greater than than the cost of free prescriptions, even with the potential charge receipts.

But some movement has been made to reduce prescriptions of cheap and easy-to-find medicines and items, such as paracetamol, aspirin, cough and throat linctus, aqueous creams, etc.