Why are MPs debating prescription charges for the over 60s?
Over 46,000 people signed a petition calling on the Government to protect free NHS prescriptions for over people aged 60 and over.
"Over 60s are generally more susceptible to health issues, and after pension age, have less money available to pay large sums for repeated prescriptions."
The Petitions Committee debated this petition in the House of Commons on Monday 6 March 2023 at 4.30pm.
To inform the debate, the Petitions Committee launched a survey and the member of the Committee who opened the debate, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, spoke with the petition creator to find out more about why they started their petition.
Petitions Committee Survey
Before the debate, the Petitions Committee launched a survey to ask petitioners for their views on the Government’s proposal to align the age of entitlement to free prescriptions with the state pension age, currently 66.
The results were shared with MPs ahead of the debate.
There were 1,863 responses to the Committee’s survey, 1,163 of whom told us they were aged 60-65 and would have to start paying for prescriptions if the age of entitlement to free prescriptions was increased to 66.
88% of respondents said they were ‘moderately’ or ‘extremely’ concerned about being able to afford prescriptions if they lost their entitlement to free prescriptions.
“In the economic climate with prices rising, I and people in my age group couldn’t afford any further financial setbacks" - Survey respondent.
Some respondents said they would cut back on spending in other areas to ensure they could afford their prescriptions. Others said that they would reduce their medication if they had to start paying for prescriptions
35% of respondents said they would cut back on other areas of spending so they could afford their prescriptions.
29% of respondents said they would stop collecting some of their prescribed medication or medical appliances (e.g., an inhaler).
22% of respondents said they would take less than their prescribed amount of medication.
Respondents expressed concern that the proposed changes might have long-term negative effects on the NHS
“If people stop using their medication because of cost, this will increase demand for the NHS and lead to further delays in A&E. For example, more staff and facilities would be needed to cope. Surely, for many people who reach 60 and have worked for over 40 years and paid National Insurance contributions during that time, a free prescription has been earned?” - Survey respondent.
You can read the full summary of responses on our website.
A member of the Committee, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, opened the debate. She gave the following statement:
"The steady rise of pensioner poverty since 2015 shows no sign of stopping, continuing a trajectory that will see millions of us face a retirement dominated by debt and hardship.
"That context means we are duty-bound to look beyond figures on spreadsheets and examine what the proposed scrapping of free prescriptions for that age group would mean for those who would be impacted by it. It is those impacts that the petition creator Peter had in mind when he set it up.
"When I spoke to Peter about why he started the petition, he shared his concern about the impact these changes would have not on him, but on his local community—the men and women who are already struggling with costs and are making difficult choices about what to prioritise.
"It is people like him who have spent a lifetime working in industry and those who, because of that work, now suffer from a variety of medical conditions, each needing different medications."
Minister for Health and Social Care, Neil O'Brien MP, responded to the debate. He said:
"I am grateful to the hon. Member for Gower (Tonia Antoniazzi) for opening the debate so effectively on behalf of the Petitions Committee, and I thank all Members for their constructive contributions. I also thank the 46,000 members of the public who signed the petition.
"It is important to know that over 1.1 billion prescription items are dispensed in the community each year, with nine out of 10 currently dispensed free of charge. The exemptions that allow that may be based on the patient’s age, certain medical conditions, or income.
"We estimate that if we were to make the proposed change, around 85% of 60 to 65-year-olds would be minimally affected by it. As I have just noted, more than half of them are in employment, with about another 20% retired with a private pension, so they have a higher income, while others would continue to qualify for free prescriptions on the basis of their particular conditions.
"It is also worth noting that there are extensive arrangements in place to help those who are most in need of support with prescription charges. People who are on a low income but do not qualify on the basis of an automatic exemption, such as being on universal credit, can get help through the NHS low income scheme, which provides either full or partial help with health costs on an income-related basis.
"Anyone can apply for the scheme if they or their partner, or they jointly as a couple, do not have savings, investments or property totalling more than £16,000, not including the place where they live. A person will qualify for full help with their health costs, including free NHS prescriptions, if their income is less than or equal to their requirements.
"To support those who do not qualify for an exemption due to one of the many other reasons, such as their age or their condition, or for the NHS low income scheme, prepayment prescription certificates, which were mentioned earlier in the debate, are available to help those who need frequent prescriptions to reduce the cost.
"[W]e continue to consider, long and hard, the many responses that we received [to the government consultation], trying to balance the cost of living pressures with the need for increasing funding for the NHS, and we will respond to the petition in due course. I thank hon. Members for their contributions today."
Watch the debate
MPs debated this petition on 6 March 2023. You can watch the full debate below or read the debate transcript on Hansard.
Read the debate pack from the House of Commons Library: E-petition relating to prescription charges for people aged 60 or over.
Petition debates
Petition debates can be an important part of a campaign. Debates help raise awareness of an issue and can influence decision-making in Government and Parliament.
Petition debates are 'general' debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.
Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means MPs will not vote on prescription charges for the over 60s at the end of the debate.
What is the Petitions Committee?
The Petitions Committee is a cross-party committee of MPs that considers e-petitions submitted on Parliament's petitions website and public (paper) petitions presented to the House of Commons, engaging the public directly with the work of the House.
What is a Westminster Hall Debate?
Westminster Hall debates take place in the Grand Committee Room in the House of Commons.
They give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister.
Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.
How Parliament works: Westminster Hall debates.
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