RPS: Rise in patients asking pharmacists what meds they can ‘do without’

One in two pharmacists have recently seen a rise in patients asking which of their prescription medicines they can “do without”, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has revealed.

“Prescription charges are an unfair tax on health"

The RPS today (February 13) said that the cost of living crisis is impacting patients' access to prescription medicines, following a survey of 269 community pharmacist members it conducted in England between November 29 and December 5.

Free to registered users

Register to gain full access to C+D and C+D Community content

Sign in or register for free

Costanza Potter

Read more by Costanza Potter

Cos Potter joined C+D as its news editor in December 2022 but has been covering primary care news for over five years. After starting out at the pharmacy press in 2019, she worked at a GP title for several years before the pharmacy sector beckoned her back.

Latest from News

Retired pharmacist crushed to death in canal boat accident

 
• By 
 • comment0

Margaret Billings sustained fatal injuries when she was caught between a moving boat and a riverbank during a day out “with family and friends”, an inquest has found.

NHSE scrapped: ‘Fresh start or just more political chaos?’

 
• By 
 • comment4

C+D rounds up some of the immediate pharmacy reaction to news that NHS England will be abolished, with more control moving back to the government and local leaders…

New primary care medical director role as 2-year NHSE axing begins

 
• By 
 • comment3

Wes Streeting has revealed that the DH is “immediately” working to scrap NHS England (NHSE) and put a new “transformation team” in place – adding that it is in the “very final stages” of concluding a new pharmacy contract deal.

More from Clinical

exclusive

Paydens reveals rollout of ‘same-day’ private prescribing service

 
• By 
 • comment

Paydens Pharmacy has announced the rollout of a private prescribing service that allows patients to access same-day care “without needing to see their GP” for £15 per consultation.

Boots to ‘review processes’ after caught dispensing Wegovy to teen

 
• By 
 • comment

The health secretary has deemed Boots weight loss safeguards “totally unacceptable” after a new Dispatches documentary found that the pharmacy provided a 16-year-old with Wegovy against its own policy.