April 2022
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about EDM 406 and prescription charges.
However, I’m afraid that, as a matter of principle and like many other MPs, I don’t sign EDMs which have no real parliamentary function and yet are very expensive to administer.
In England, there are cases in which an individual can be exempted from prescription charges. There is an extensive list of conditions exempted from the charge, in addition to exemptions for people on certain benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme.
The system of exemptions as a whole means that 89 per cent of prescriptions are dispensed without charge. Additionally, patients who need more than one prescription each month can save a minimum of £20 every three months by purchasing a pre-payment certificate (PPC) from the NHS Business Authority. This covers an unlimited number of prescriptions for the length of the certificate, regardless of whether they specifically relate to the condition.
However, having taken on board your concerns I will raise your key points in discussions with ministerial colleagues.
Thank you again for contacting me,
With best wishes,
Kind regards.
Jonathan Lord MP
Member of Parliament for Woking