Study reveals one in ten skip prescription medication due to cost

A study published by the Prescription Charges Coalition – of which the Trust is a member - has found that one in ten people with long term health conditions are skipping their prescription medications due to the cost.

The study collected data through a five week long survey at the beginning of 2023, and was completed by 4,014 people living with a long term condition. The results show that the number of people skipping their medication due to cost was particularly high for people with cystic fibrosis who completed the survey.

Those skipping prescription medication due to cost saw an increase of visits to their GP as a result of worsening physical health and 26% of respondents had to seek treatment either via a visit to Accident and Emergency or a longer-term hospital visit. The average cost to an NHS surgery for a 9 minute GP appointment is £42, while the average cost to the NHS of a person attending A&E in 2021/22 can range from £77 to £359 depending on the type of treatment they need. By making prescriptions free for those with long term conditions, it would reduce the need for GP appointments or A&E visits due to worsening condition, therefore saving the NHS thousands of pounds.

The Coalition recommends:

- The UK Government stops reducing the length of prescriptions, therefore increasing the price per prescription

- An independent review of the prescription charge exemption list

- Commit to freezing the charge for 2024

- Make sure everyone is aware of the prescription charge reduction and support at diagnosis.

Earlier this month, Cystic Fibrosis Trust delivered over 1000 signed prescriptions to No.10 Downing Street, calling on the Prime Minister to urgently review the outdated prescription charges exemption list. Some people with cystic fibrosis can take up to 40 medications every day to stay alive and the cost of these prescriptions can add up.

The prescription charges exemption list has not been updated since the 1960’s, when cystic fibrosis was considered a childhood condition. Currently, people affected by cystic fibrosis face thousands of pounds of additional annual costs as a result of their condition and then the added cost of living pressures on top of this. The cost of a prepayment certificate of £108 is simply too high for many people, meaning they have to pay per item, making yearly costs much more expensive, thus leading to some people skipping their medications due to being unable to afford them.