Patients cut back on drugs to save on prescription fees as cost of living crisis bites

Patients are rationing their use of vital medicines to save on prescription charges in response to the cost of living crisis, a survey has indicated.A poll by the charity Asthma + Lung UK found that almost a sixth of people with asthma (523 of 3471) were cutting back on using their inhaler to make it last longer. Some 6% (196) said they had not been getting their prescriptions, one in 10 (356) said they were rationing use of medical devices that required electricity, such as nebulisers, and 5% (165) said they had shared medicines, such as by getting an inhaler from someone who didn’t have to pay for one.Unlike for some conditions, such as cancer and diabetes, drugs for asthma are not exempt from prescription charges.1 Although patients can apply for a prepayment certificate that caps their costs,2 this can still cost more than £100 if they need more than…
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