Free prescriptions for cancer patients

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Cancer sufferers will no longer have to pay the £7.10 prescription fee in the UK as of this April.

What's the story?

England has now followed Wales and Scotland in offering cancer patients free of charge prescriptions in a bid to help the long-term ill in Britain.

Why now?

Scotland scrapped the charges over a year ago, and patients are no longer required to pay for any prescriptions in Wales, so it was about time England followed suit. Medical charities had put pressure on the government to make the change for a while, as they claim 800,000 people a year can't afford their prescriptions.

How can the free prescriptions be claimed?

As of today, eligible patients can fill in forms collected from GP surgeries and hospital clinics which will allow them five years out from paying the £7.10 charge, even if they're given the all-clear before then.

Free prescriptions can't be claimed until April but people are being encouraged to register now so that come April, everything has been processed.

How much will they save?

The Department of Health says patients will save around £100 a year but estimates suggest the cost to the NHS will be £15 million a year.

Is this only restricted to cancer patients?

At the moment, yes, but eventually the plan is for all patients with long-term conditions like asthma, heart disease and arthritis to be able to claim free prescriptions.

What are the experts saying?

Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: 'We're delighted the government has listened and abolished prescription charges for cancer patients.

'Free prescriptions will transform the lives of thousands of people living with cancer who were struggling to pay for drugs.'

Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: 'We are also urging the Government to drive forward plans to lift prescription charging for people with other long-term conditions.'

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