Thursday, 2 September 2021

Pricing People Out of Health?

There is a proposal to change the qualifying age for receiving free National Health Service (NHS) prescriptions in England, from 60 to 66 (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/02/scrapping-free-prescriptions-for-over-60s-could-have-devastating-impact). The logic for the proposal is that it would bring the age in line with that at which people receive state pensions. There are, however, millions of people in the UK between the ages of 60 and 66. Many of these have medical conditions (often more than one). Some people responding to the proposal, fear it would lead to some poorer people, failing to obtain and take necessary medication. They could well be right. The costs to the NHS, in terms of having to treat very sick patients, might well increase. I'm glad I live in Wales.
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Seeing the Changes 2140

My first Speckled wood ( Parage aegeria tircis ) of the year, in my Loughor garden.

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