RCN welcomes free prescriptions for cancer patients

Published: 20 January 2009

EMBARGOED: 00:01 20 January 2009

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today welcomed free prescriptions for cancer patients, which can be applied for from today and can be received from April 1st.

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary said:
“The free prescriptions for cancer patients announced last year will make a great deal of difference to people living with this disease. In particular, I am very pleased that this applies to all the prescriptions for cancer patients, not only for cancer drugs. This should ease some of the stress and burden of a cancer diagnosis, and I would urge cancer patients to make use of it.
“However, we are also urging the government to drive forward plans to lift prescription charging for people with other long-term conditions, as set out by the Prime Minister during his speech to the Labour Party conference last year. This would end the unfair anomalies in the prescription system which can deter patients with long-term conditions, many of whom live on a reduced income, from managing their illnesses in the long term.
“The large surplus in the NHS could be spent on resolving these anomalies, and the unfair situation in which a patient with cancer has free prescriptions which a patient with Multiple Sclerosis may have to wait years for.”
Ends

Notes for Editors

For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.