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NHS T2 Medication funding?

E

Estragon

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,750
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Too many to list here . . .
It would appear my NHS GP Surgery is moving towards full-on pay to use. I’m wondering when my T2 treatments will become part of that list too?Anybody else become or becoming aware of this and potential personal MedCare costs?
 
Where are you living? I am confused by your terminology - "full-on-pay to use" and "MedCare" are not terms are I am familiar with.

Regardless, people with diabetes (unless treated by diet alone) are entitled to a Medical exemption certificate so you should not be paying for T2 medication in England. And if you have a medical exemption certificate, you will not be paying for any prescriptions.
This is not a decision made at GP surgery level.
 
I’m getting aware of the encroachment and increase of paid services appearing at my GP.

In Response said:
This is not a decision made at GP surgery level.
Click to expand...

Well, you’re most reassuring. I’m sensitive to a thin end of a wedge being inserted. I’m living in the UK and being a tad circumspect about the financial support presently being delivered to our NHS.
 
Estragon said:
I’m living in the UK
Click to expand...
Prescription payment varies for each of the nations in the UK.
The link I provided was for England
If you are (I think) under 65, you must apply for the medical exemption certificate and renews it when it runs out (even if you have a chronic condition like Type 1 which has no cure).
 

My surgery has increased their fees for insurance medicals or letter requested by patients, and also charges 50p per sheet for a print out of results or such like. Whilst I am sure some of it is supporting the costs of doing non-essential things (in their eyes), but I think the results thing also serves as a disincentive for some.

Online access to my records negates such a need for me.
 
EllieM said:
Can you view results online?
Click to expand...
I view my full GP record. Hospital notes are not available to me, although hospital correspondence is, once scanned to my record, but I will usually have had my copy before that happens.
 
Almost all GP surgeries are independent contractors and all operate under one of several contracts. The contracts are negotiated at national level with Government. If the practice provides a service under the contract it is not entitled to charge the patient anything. Diabetes care is currently part of the contract and practices are rewarded for meeting various targets. The Quality and Outcomes Framework (also agreed between the BMA and government) specifies what practices will be paid for doing various things. This is based on guidelines produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Link below for the T2 diabetes bits. In addition the practice receives a fixed payment based on how many patients are registered, and linked to the age profile and deprivation of the area the practice serves.

QOF indicators | Goals and outcome measures | Diabetes - type 2 | CKS | NICE

QOF indicators, Goals and outcome measures, Diabetes - type 2, CKS
cks.nice.org.uk

If the practice provides a service that is not covered by the contract with the NHS it can and will charge a fee for doing so. The BMA (the doctors' union) produces advice to its members about the levels of fees they should charge. Link below.

https://www.bma.org.uk/pay-and-contracts/fees

I am not aware of any proposals to remove diabetes care from the GP contract, or to change the entire relationship between GPs, their patients, and the system of how practices are funded.
 
KennyA said:
I am not aware of any proposals to remove diabetes care from the GP contract, or to change the entire relationship between GPs, their patients, and the system of how practices are funded.
Click to expand...
Excellent input to my thread, thank you.
 
As far as I'm aware my National Insurance contributions have paid for my medical care. I paid a nominal charge for all my prescriptions before I retired, but I wasn't diabetic then. Since I've been receiving my state pension (from age 60) they've all been free .

I've only ever paid for treatment when I chose to use a private dentist.
 
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