NHS to ban homeopathy and herbal medicine, as 'misuse of resources'

First topic message reminder :

The NHS has announced a ban on homeopathy and herbal medicine as they say it is "misuse of scarce funds".

Officials today ruled that the treatments are among dozens of medicines which should not be funded by the health service. In the last five years, the NHS has spent almost £600,000 on homeopathic treatment, despite long running debate about whether alternative remedies work.

Today NHS England ruled that “at best homeopathy is a placebo and a misuse of scarce NHS funds which could be better devoted to treatments that work.”

Health officials said cash-strapped clinical commissioning groups should no longer fund such medicines, along with 16 other classes of treatment classed as “low value” because they are ineffective or could easily be bought over the counter.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/21/nhs-ban-homeopathy-herbal-medicine-misuse-resources/

Raggamuffin wrote:

Thorin wrote:


This cream is not available without a prescription rags

Well then I don't understand how you can pay less for it. If the pharmacist fills the prescription, he would have to charge the prescription price.

That was my understanding too.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Thorin wrote:


This cream is not available without a prescription rags

Well then I don't understand how you can pay less for it. If the pharmacist fills the prescription, he would have to charge the prescription price.

I did not either Rags, until I was told I could challenge by my chemist.

I have paid the retail cost on this for years

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Well then I don't understand how you can pay less for it. If the pharmacist fills the prescription, he would have to charge the prescription price.

I did not either Rags, until I was told I could challenge by my chemist.

I have paid the retail cost on this for years

Do you sign the prescription form? I had no idea people could ask to pay the retail price. Of course, most wouldn't want to because it would be more.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Thorin wrote:


I did not either Rags, until I was told I could challenge by my chemist.

I have paid the retail cost on this for years

Do you sign the prescription form? I had no idea people could ask to pay the retail price. Of course, most wouldn't want to because it would be more.

Everyone has to sign and date their prescription form.

Well my chemist is a local chemist run by Indians, who are brilliant. He told me it was cheaper retail than the standard NHS cost.

Maybe i am just lucky with this being a very good Chemist Rags. Maybe he should not even be doing what he is doing. To be honest I just have taken for granted how he does not charge me the NHS standard charge for the cream. He always has advised to challenge the cost though.

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Do you sign the prescription form? I had no idea people could ask to pay the retail price. Of course, most wouldn't want to because it would be more.

Everyone has to sign and date their prescription form.

Well my chemist is a local chemist run by Indians, who are brilliant. He told me it was cheaper retail than the standard NHS cost.

Maybe i am just lucky with this being a very good Chemist Rags. Maybe he should not even be doing what he is doing. To be honest I just have taken for granted how he does not charge me the NHS standard charge for the cream.

What does he mean by "retail"? The drug I take is not available to the general public, so does he mean what it costs the NHS to buy it? I would have thought that by signing the NHS form, you have agreed to pay the prescription charge. I can't find anything about it on the internet.

Here is a prime example of how something is very cheap and people end up paying near 5 times what it is in France Rags

http://www.newsfixboard.com/t21497-boots-apologises-after-labour-mps-write-to-express-deep-concern-over-its-refusal-to-reduce-emergency-contraception-cost#411171

By the way, I just read that 9 out of 10 prescriptions are free. I know that a lot of people get them free, but I find it extraordinary that only 1 in 10 prescriptions have to be paid for.

Thorin wrote:Here is a prime example of how something is very cheap and people end up paying near 5 times what it is in France Rags

http://www.newsfixboard.com/t21497-boots-apologises-after-labour-mps-write-to-express-deep-concern-over-its-refusal-to-reduce-emergency-contraception-cost#411171

I didn't even know you could buy them in Tesco. Isn't that a bit dangerous?

I have 6 scrips a month, happy to pay 50p an item.

nicko wrote:I have 6 scrips a month, happy to pay 50p an item.

Do you not use this Nicko?

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/PPC.aspx

Thorin wrote:

nicko wrote:I have 6 scrips a month, happy to pay 50p an item.

Do you not use this Nicko?

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/PPC.aspx

I thought he didn't have to pay at all. I have one of those cards - they're very good.

Pensioners should get their prescriptions free Nicko.

I have just read that if a chemist advises a customer that he could buy the prescribed medicine cheaper over the counter he could be in trouble....that doesn't seem fair.

Raggamuffin wrote:By the way, I just read that 9 out of 10 prescriptions are free. I know that a lot of people get them free, but I find it extraordinary that only 1 in 10 have to pay.

I do get them free now because of my age but I noticed for years that I was the only one who ever seemed to get money out if I needed a prescription.
Maybe the charges should come in line with Wales, Scotland and Ireland.....everyone gets free prescriptions there.

Syl wrote:Pensioners should get their prescriptions free Nicko.

I have just read that if a chemist advises a customer that he could buy the prescribed medicine cheaper over the counter he could be in trouble....that doesn't seem fair.

Where did you read that? I don't think that's the case. The question is - can a pharmacist sell a prescription-only drug at a lower price?

Syl wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:By the way, I just read that 9 out of 10 prescriptions are free. I know that a lot of people get them free, but I find it extraordinary that only 1 in 10 have to pay.

I do get them free now because of my age but I noticed for years that I was the only one who ever seemed to get money out if I needed a prescription.
Maybe the charges should come in line with Wales, Scotland and Ireland.....everyone gets free prescriptions there.

I don't really mind paying for them, but I'm amazed that the large number of people between childhood and pensionable age, or who are not on benefits or exempt for other reasons, only amount to 10% of those who collect a prescription.

Syl wrote:Pensioners should get their prescriptions free Nicko.

I have just read that if a chemist advises a customer that he could buy the prescribed medicine cheaper over the counter he could be in trouble....that doesn't seem fair.

So my chemist should not be doing this then Syl?

I dont want to get him in trouble, so will ask to pay the NHS charge for this in the future.

Thanks for the heads up.

I think there's still some confusion about this. If someone has a prescription for an item, and they can buy it cheaper over the counter, I don't think there's an issue with the pharmacist telling them that. If it's a prescription-only item, and is therefore not available over the counter, I'm not sure.

Raggamuffin wrote:I think there's still some confusion about this. If someone has a prescription for an item, and they can buy it cheaper over the counter, I don't think there's an issue with the pharmacist telling them that. If it's a prescription-only item, and is therefore not available over the counter, I'm not sure.

I cant find the link.
I was reading various sites trying to find out if you could buy a prescription only drug cheaper than the normal charge of £8.60....and I scrolled down one link where it distinctly said that pharmacists could get into trouble if they advised customers that the drug (this is one that can be bought over the counter) is cheaper to buy without the prescription.

Thorin wrote:

Syl wrote:Pensioners should get their prescriptions free Nicko.

I have just read that if a chemist advises a customer that he could buy the prescribed medicine cheaper over the counter he could be in trouble....that doesn't seem fair.

So my chemist should not be doing this then Syl?

I dont want to get him in trouble, so will ask to pay the NHS charge for this in the future.

Thanks for the heads up.

Sorry Thor I cant find the link where I read this..

I found this article from 2014 about how £80 million is wasted on prescriptions for paracetamol. It's shocking.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/11259122/NHS-spends-on-80-million-a-year-on-paracetamol-prescriptions.html

It's time that those who get free prescriptions were told to stop taking the piss, and for doctors to tell them to buy their own medicine if they can.

I don't have to pay anything it's all free for Pensioners, I ment I Would not mind paying 50p for each item, for me that would be £3.00 a month witch would be a few quid for the NHS.

nicko wrote:I don't have to pay anything it's all free for Pensioners,   I ment I Would not mind paying 50p for each item, for me that would be £3.00 a month witch would be a few quid for the NHS.

+1

Syl wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:I think there's still some confusion about this. If someone has a prescription for an item, and they can buy it cheaper over the counter, I don't think there's an issue with the pharmacist telling them that. If it's a prescription-only item, and is therefore not available over the counter, I'm not sure.

I cant find the link.
I was reading various sites trying to find out if you could buy a prescription only drug cheaper than the normal charge of £8.60....and I scrolled down one link where it distinctly said that pharmacists could get into trouble if they advised customers that the drug (this is one that can be bought over the counter) is cheaper to buy without the prescription.

My Dr has told me to buy certain things over the coutner before cos he said its the same as the scrpt one but works out much cheaper...

It's rather disrespectful towards believers in homeopathy to say it's a ''misuse of resources''. They believe it helps them and the mind is a powerful tool in healing. Which is why placebo sometimes works.


It's more diplomatic to say that NHS funding is being streamlined and therefore only scientifically proven treatments (conventional drugs) will be allowed.

Theresa has cut NHS resources to the bone and medics say the public is in for a nasty shock when she finally reveals the full extent of the cuts. At the moment it's still hush hush. And gawwd help us when Liam Fox goes to the US to broker a trade deal after we exit the EU - The americans will be wanting a fat slice of whatever is left of our NHS resources.

Jules wrote:Theresa has cut NHS resources to the bone  and medics say the public is in for a nasty shock when she finally reveals the full extent of the cuts.  At the moment it's still hush hush. And gawwd help us when Liam Fox goes to the US to broker a trade deal after we exit the EU - The americans will be wanting a fat slice of whatever is left of our NHS resources.

Okay what has this got to do with anything political?
Unless you back quackery?

NHS spending has increased every year...


Its just a shame that so much of the NHS money is going on paying for Labours dodgy PFI deals... and the army of expensive pen pushers Labour left the NHS full up of... and paying for the treatment of so many unentitled foreigners... and the waste that is 10% of the NHS budget treating diabetes when 90% of the cases are completely cureable by patient controlling diet and doing more exercise...!!!

Tommy Monk wrote:NHS spending has increased every year...


Its just a shame that so much of the NHS money is going on paying for Labours dodgy PFI deals... and the army of expensive pen pushers Labour left the NHS full up of... and paying for the treatment of so many unentitled foreigners... and the waste that is 10% of the NHS budget treating diabetes when 90% of the cases are completely cureable by patient controlling diet and doing more exercise...!!!

More gibberish from  Tommy

Put evidence up

You put evidence up that shows any of it to be 'gibberish'...!?

Tommy Monk wrote:

You put evidence up that shows any of it to be 'gibberish'...!?

Is that why you back the Rotherham grooming gangs tommy based on your methodology?

Still waiting for your evidence on two threads now

What is worse is you think its funny

Wolf and Quill were right about you I guess.

For some reason Tommy has gone silent

What a surprise


Night all

Thorin wrote:

Tommy Monk wrote:NHS spending has increased every year...


Its just a shame that so much of the NHS money is going on paying for Labours dodgy PFI deals... and the army of expensive pen pushers Labour left the NHS full up of... and paying for the treatment of so many unentitled foreigners... and the waste that is 10% of the NHS budget treating diabetes when 90% of the cases are completely cureable by patient controlling diet and doing more exercise...!!!

More gibberish from  Tommy

Put evidence up

You put evidence up that shows any of it to be 'gibberish'...!?

Tommy Monk wrote:

Thorin wrote:


More gibberish from  Tommy

Put evidence up

You put evidence up that shows any of it to be 'gibberish'...!?

Well its not my fault you cannot understand English Tommy...

lol I see Tommy is on a roll, a Swiss roll.



Night everyone