The NHS cut down on prescriptions deemed to have low clinical value

Malevolence · 28 Mar 2017 at 18:31

Perhaps they ought to start charging all the health tourists too. You know, those parasites who come here to specifically leech off of the NHS but who have never paid a penny into it.

Angilion · 28 Mar 2017 at 18:34

ethan said:
Uh? Co-proxamol is on that list despite it bring discontinued?

https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/co-proxamol-withdrawal-reminder-to-prescribers

The most relevant part:

We recognise that there is a small group of patients who are finding it difficult to change, or where there is an identified clinical need when alternatives seem to be ineffective or unsuitable. For this small group of patients, continued provision of coproxamol through normal prescribing may continue until the cancellation of the licences at the end of 2007. After this time, a provision will remain for the supply of unlicensed co-proxamol on the responsibility of the prescriber, and the Marketing Authorisation holder for the brand leader (Distalgesic) has indicated that they will continue to manufacture co-proxamol to meet clinical demand.

So it was still possible for it to be prescribed, although it sounds like the numbers involved would have been very low.

dowie · 28 Mar 2017 at 18:43

paradigm said:
My wife suffers from Coeliac disease and to be honest, the few times we've had the prescription stuff (to try it) it's been downright terrible anyway.

Yes, gluten free food in supermarkets and other shops cost more than "regular" counterparts (not least due to the idiotic fad surrounding going "gluten free", trust me, if she could, she'd eat gluten), but the Genuis/Warburtons/Schar etc brands taste 100% better than the junk you get on prescription.

yeah but the silly thing is to have a gluten free diet you don't *need* to have expenisve equivalents of food that ordinarily contain gluten, you could just not eat food that contains gluten

just like vegetarians don't *need* to have meat substitutes, they can just stop eating meat

maybe it is nice to have those substitutes for some but they're not necessary and it is pretty farcical that this was ever allowed on prescription even when 'gluten free' equivalents were expensive

Dis86 · 28 Mar 2017 at 18:43

VincentHanna said:
Who the hell is getting suncream prescribed from a doctor?

Someone who suffers from one of a number of skin conditions such as albinism.

Haggisman · 28 Mar 2017 at 18:56

What is all this nonsense about gluten free stuff being hard to find/expensive?

Rice/potatoes/corn are all gluten free, along with fruits, vegetables and in fact the majority of other foods, last time i checked they've all been around a lot longer than the last couple of years.

Unless you're only eating ready meals and "need" bread (the gluten free stuff tastes lick **** anyway!) then it's no more expensive/difficult to eat gluten free than not

Amp34 · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:00

paradigm said:
My wife suffers from Coeliac disease and to be honest, the few times we've had the prescription stuff (to try it) it's been downright terrible anyway.

Yes, gluten free food in supermarkets and other shops cost more than "regular" counterparts (not least due to the idiotic fad surrounding going "gluten free", trust me, if she could, she'd eat gluten), but the Genuis/Warburtons/Schar etc brands taste 100% better than the junk you get on prescription.

Should have been ditched years ago, sure there might have been call for it 5-10 years ago, when gluten free product choice was both rare and limited, but recently things have been vastly improved (the one upside to the "healthkick fad").

Agreed. That said I like Avenged's idea of a grant for those that need it. A basic means tested grant for those on low income with Coeliac and other (actual) illnesses would be a very good idea.

Amp34 · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:03

dowie said:
yeah but the silly thing is to have a gluten free diet you don't *need* to have expenisve equivalents of food that ordinarily contain gluten, you could just not eat food that contains gluten

just like vegetarians don't *need* to have meat substitutes, they can just stop eating meat

maybe it is nice to have those substitutes for some but they're not necessary and it is pretty farcical that this was ever allowed on prescription even when 'gluten free' equivalents were expensive

At the risk of bringing up this argument again, but cutting out half of an average UK diet is not exactly easy. You're right, you could just not eat the food that contains gluten, such as everything from bread, to most (cheaper processed meats), many herb and spice mixes, etc etc.. That leaves making pretty much everything from scratch and using rice and potatoes as your main source of carbs, which again is not an issue, but does cost more than eating what most other people eat, hence the idea of a grant being quite beneficial for those on low incomes.

xaldub · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:38

iamtheoneneo said:
im paying for some idiot to get their suncream for free? **** THAT.

There are some medical conditions ( eg. lupus ) and drugs ( eg. amiodarone ) that can cause a marked increase in sensitivity to sunlight. I would imagine it is those patients that are getting suncream on prescription.

dowie · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:46

Amp34 said:
At the risk of bringing up this argument again, but cutting out half of an average UK diet is not exactly easy. You're right, you could just not eat the food that contains gluten, such as everything from bread, to most (cheaper processed meats), many herb and spice mixes, etc etc.. That leaves making pretty much everything from scratch and using rice and potatoes as your main source of carbs, which again is not an issue, but does cost more than eating what most other people eat, hence the idea of a grant being quite beneficial for those on low incomes.

It isn't particularly hard - 'half the average UK diet' is a bit of a stretch I think, but regardless there are plenty of food options. It isn't much different to being a vegetarian and certainly less hassle than finding out you've got a nut allergy that could kill you if you slip up re: food. It certainly doesn't have to cost more though.

paradigm · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:52

Haggisman said:
then it's no more expensive/difficult to eat gluten free than not

I openly challenge anyone who thinks that "on paper" this is as easy as it sounds. It's not.

You have to be INCREDIBLY careful at times, even times you really wouldn't think you might need to. M&S Coke for instance, has barley in it. OXO Gravy? Can't have that. You have to ask every chef when you go out for a meal, just on the off chance they've used "normal" flour as a thickening agent rather than rice flour. Eating most mainstream products made in factories that handle dry powder? Probably can't risk that either due to contaminants in the air/on the machinery.

So, you say cut out bread (and wraps, and sandwich thins, etc). So what do you take to work? You'll soon get sick of a salad every day, or leftovers of the same three things you can actually cook with flavor at home in the few precious hours you get after work the day before. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to cook (or even warm) something at work. Sandwiches aren't for the most part eaten because they are the most exciting foodstuff in the world, but because they are a convenient way of holding different flavors. The prepackaged gluten-free foodstuffs have their place, in the same way the "normal" equivalents have their place.

It's one thing to have a (ridiculously blinkered) view, but it's another entirely to live with it. :rolleyes:

No-one is condoning the stupid practice of prescription bread (at least for those who can afford the alternatives).

Glaucus · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:53

paradigm said:
I openly challenge anyone who thinks that "on paper" this is as easy as it sounds. It's not.

yes it is.

paradigm · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:53

No, it's not.

Counter challenge, It's not difficult to learn how to spell and type correctly, yet you seem to fail most days?

Dis86 · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:55

paradigm said:
No, it's not.

Counter challenge, It's not difficult to learn how to spell and type correctly, yet you seem to fail most days?

It really is. I have a couple of friends who suffer various issues that prevent them eating Gluten and they succeed easily. One of them literally did it over-night after diagnosis.

Roar87 · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:55

My girlfriend eats gluten free as she feels better for doing so (I know...), the specialist food is a bit overpriced but you can definitely feed yourself without needing a grant

Glaucus · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:55

paradigm said:
No, it's not.

Counter challenge, It's not difficult to learn how to spell and type correctly, yet you seem to fail most days?

there's a large number who people who do this anyway, and it is easy and cheap. Myself included.

paradigm · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:57

Glaucus said:
there's a large number who people who do this anyway, and it is easy and cheap.

Oh, don't like stupid stereotyping? Odd.

It's easy to eat gluten free, I'm not disputing that. I'm disputing that it's easy to eat gluten free WITHOUT access to the more expensive (than their non-gluten free counterparts) gluten free foodstuffs. Not everyone has spare hours in the day to create their own meals from scratch, all the time.

It IS more expensive to eat gluten free. I know, I've been buying the stuff for 8 years.

dowie · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:57

paradigm said:
So, you say cut out bread (and wraps, and sandwich thins, etc). So what do you take to work?

Maybe this is just the result of living in London but if you can't think of other lunch options beyond sandwiches and salads then your local food options are pretty backwards. I very rarely ever eat sandwiches, I very rarely eat bread tbh...

Lots of people have some form of dietary requirements either as a result of medical conditions/allergy or the result of some moral or religious beliefs. It just means you need to be careful to check when buying some product you've not used before.

paradigm · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:59

dowie said:
Maybe this is just the result of living in London but if you can't think of other lunch options beyond sandwiches and salads then your local food options are pretty backwards. I very rarely ever eat sandwiches, I very rarely eat bread tbh...

Yet you've come up with no suggestions? That's helpful.

Dis86 · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:59

paradigm said:
Oh, don't like stupid stereotyping? Odd.

It's easy to eat gluten free, I'm not disputing that. I'm disputing that it's easy to eat gluten free WITHOUT access to gluten free foodstuffs. Not everyone has spare hours in the day to create their own meals from scratch, all the time.

It doesn't take hours at all. I cooked a thai curry in 30 mins last night. From scratch. Completely gluten free.

Preparing soups takes minutes.

Cooking something like chicken with steamed vegetables 20 mins.

Uther · 28 Mar 2017 at 19:59

dowie said:
a genuine example of white privilege?

(I guess some immunosuppressant suppressant drugs (am on myself) give you a higher increased chance of skin cancer but still... free suncream seems a bit OTT)

I'm on immunosuppressants, have been for three years, and was told in no uncertain terms to keep out of the sun, and if I do go out in the sun, use nothing less than spf50. I wasn't given it on prescription though, didn't even realise that was a thing!