Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what basis the medical conditions exempt from prescription charges are decided; and if he will make it his policy to update the list of medical exemptions.
Answered by George Freeman
The list of medical conditions that give exemption from prescription charges was introduced in 1968 after agreement with the medical profession. The list has since been reviewed on a number of occasions, but not altered except for the introduction of cancer in 2009.
At the request of the previous Government, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore undertook a review into extending entitlement to free prescriptions to all those in England with a long-term condition. In responding to the review in 2010, the Government made clear that, in light of the challenging financial context, no changes would be made to the current list of exemptions.
Prescription charges in England raise valuable income, in the region of £450 million each year, which helps the National Health Service to maintain vital services for patients.
The extensive system of exemption arrangements in place, including for those on low incomes who may struggle to pay for their prescriptions, means that around 90% of all prescription items are already dispensed free of charge. Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs) are also available for those who need multiple prescriptions, such as those with long-term conditions, and have to pay NHS prescription charges. This is the fifth year the cost of an annual certificate, and the third year the cost of a three month certificate, have been frozen. Both certificates will also remain at £104.00 and £29.10 respectively, next year. There is no limit to the number of items that can be obtained through a PPC. The annual certificate benefits anyone needing more than 12 items a year, and the three month certificate anyone needing more than three items in that three month period.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to include inflammatory bowel disease patients in the list of people who are exempt from prescription charges.
Answered by George Freeman
The list of medical conditions that give exemption from prescription charges was introduced in 1968 after agreement with the medical profession. The list has since been reviewed on a number of occasions, but not altered except for the introduction of cancer in 2009.
At the request of the previous Government, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore undertook a review into extending entitlement to free prescriptions to all those in England with a long-term condition. In responding to the review in 2010, the Government made clear that, in light of the challenging financial context, no changes would be made to the current list of exemptions.
Prescription charges in England raise valuable income, in the region of £450 million each year, which helps the National Health Service to maintain vital services for patients.
The extensive system of exemption arrangements in place, including for those on low incomes who may struggle to pay for their prescriptions, means that around 90% of all prescription items are already dispensed free of charge. Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs) are also available for those who need multiple prescriptions, such as those with long-term conditions, and have to pay NHS prescription charges. This is the fifth year the cost of an annual certificate, and the third year the cost of a three month certificate, have been frozen. Both certificates will also remain at £104.00 and £29.10 respectively, next year. There is no limit to the number of items that can be obtained through a PPC. The annual certificate benefits anyone needing more than 12 items a year, and the three month certificate anyone needing more than three items in that three month period.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what processes are in place to issue renewal reminders to people with medical exemption certificates when they are due to expire; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by George Freeman
The NHS Business Services Authority sends a reminder letter to holders of medical exemption certificates one month before the expiry date on the certificate.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the penalties are for incorrect prescription charge exemption claims; what appeal mechanisms are in place to contest those penalties; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by George Freeman
The National Health Service (Penalty Charge) Regulations 1999 set out that where a person fails to pay a NHS charge which they are liable to pay, they may be issued with a penalty notice. The penalty charge is a civil fine – it is five times the amount a person should have paid, up to £100. This is on top of the original prescription charge, currently £8.05 per item. Where a person fails to pay the penalty charge within a period of 28 days, the penalty charge will be increased by 50%.
The NHS Act 2006 (section 194) allows for a fine of up to £2,500 (level 4 on the standard scale, Criminal Justice Act 1982) for those found guilty of knowingly making a false claim to exemption from prescription charges.
A person who wishes to challenge the request for payment of a penalty charge by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), may explain their circumstances to the NHSBSA and if they can demonstrate to the NHSBSA’s satisfaction that they did not act wrongfully, or with any lack of care, they will not be subject to a penalty charge. The NHSBSA also has discretion to waive the penalty charge where the person concerned provides compelling reasons for making an incorrect claim for exception. A person who is not satisfied with the handling of their case may use the NHS complaints process to make a complaint against the NHSBSA. Ultimately, this can be escalated to the Health Service Ombudsman.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people paid for prescriptions in (a) 2011, (b) 2012, (c) 2013 and (d) 2014.
Answered by George Freeman
We do not hold data on the number of people who paid prescription charges, but we estimate that 40% of people in England are required to pay for their prescriptions.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England will remain the sole budget-holder and accountable commissioner for all specialised services in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) future years.
Answered by Jane Ellison
NHS England is the accountable commissioner and budget holder for all specialised services as set out in The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012, with the Manual for prescribed specialised services providing further detail.
NHS England is proposing to move to a more collaborative approach to commissioning some specialised services, aligned to the vision set out in the Five Year Forward View. This should lead to improved outcomes for patients, more integrated pathways and a better patient experience.
NHS England has clarified that where there are collaboratively commissioned services, NHS England will retain the full financial risk for these services for 2015/16.
NHS England has advised us that there will be further work conducted over the next year to determine the range of specialised services for which NHS England should remain the accountable commissioner and budget holder for 2016/17 and future years.
Copies of The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 and the Manual for prescribed specialised services are attached.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what scope the joint committees of NHS England and clinical commissioning groups will have to deviate from national service specifications for specialised services in (a) 2015-16 and (b) future years.
Answered by Jane Ellison
Whilst NHS England remains the accountable commissioner for a specialised service, national service specifications and policies will still apply in their entirety. This position applies even when there are services which are collaboratively commissioned with clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) through joint committee arrangements.
If a service is transferred to CCG commissioning responsibility there will need to be an agreed transition plan about the continued use of national service specifications and policies.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will allocate additional funding to assist towards delivering the new cystic fibrosis ward at King's College Hospital; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jane Ellison
This is a matter for King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and local NHS commissioners. The Trust is free to apply to the Department for loan funding for the development of a new cystic fibrosis ward. However, we are advised that the Department has not to date received any such application from the Trust.
We are advised by the Trust that it remains committed to developing an expanded and refurbished ward for cystic fibrosis patients at King’s College Hospital and that it is looking to secure a long term solution which is in the best interests of patients. Cystic fibrosis patients at King’s were recently moved to a new interim facility, which provides a better environment for both patients and staff.