'Minister must resolve prescription charge anomaly'

2.50.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 9th Mar 2006

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has expressed her concern at the Minister's lack of action over a discrepancy in how prescriptions are charged.

After discovering that constituents attending a doctor's surgery in Knighton were paying higher charges because the practice was part of one based in England, Ms Williams wrote to the Health Minister, raising her concerns.

Ms Williams said: "I was shocked to learn that Welsh patients, going to see a GP in Wales, were having to pay the much higher English prescription charges, just because the surgery happened to be part of a practice based in England. The Minister, however, was not shocked. His response, which I have received this week, makes clear that he was well aware of the situation.

"He informed me that he had held a seminar, back in November, to discuss these issues with a variety of healthcare professionals and officials, and states that he will announce the outcome of the seminar shortly. I do not understand why a seminar needed to be held, or why time needs to be taken to announce any outcomes - surely, the only possible outcome is a clarification which reaffirms that all those in Wales are entitled to Welsh prescription charges.

"I will be pressing the Minister on this issue, and feel strongly that this anomaly must be resolved with all possible speed. Prescription charges have been one of the big successes of the Assembly, and it is completely unacceptable that not everyone is able to benefit from this."

Notes:

Ms Williams was made aware last month that patients at a doctor's surgery in Knighton were paying the English prescription charge of £6.50 (rather that the Welsh charge of £4) because their surgery was part of a practice based in Shropshire.

The Minister acknowledged that 14,000 patients resident in Wales whose GP is registered in England, rather than with a Welsh LHB or NHS Trust, have to pay the higher charge.