Mixed response to news that IVF treatment will be reduced and some medicines no longer prescribed in Worcestershire – Worcester News

Posted: Published on July 9th, 2017

This post was added by Dr P. Richardson

MORE details have been revealed about items that will no longer be handed out free on prescription.

Toothpaste and verruca treatments are on the list of things that doctors will no longer routinely prescribe.

Paracetamol and other easily accessible forms of pain relief and antihistamines will also no longer be available.

We reported yesterday how Worcestershire's Clinical Commissioning Groups had agreed to withdraw funding for some items of food and medicine.

The groups, who are responsible for buying healthcare services for the county's residents, also said some specialist baby milks, gluten-free food and vitamin and mineral pills will no longer be available on prescription.

Most controversially, infertile couples will now be entitled to only one cycle of IVF on the NHS, rather than the two they currently receive.

However, a spokesman for South Worcestershire CCG reassured people that decisions about what to prescribe would be based on the clinical judgment of their GP.

He said: "If it is needed for patient then it will be given."

The news of the cuts had a mixed response with online readers with some questioning the choices of medicines which were being prescribed.

Charlotte Wilde wrote on the Worcester News facebook page: "Here's an idea.

"How about not prescribing medicines that can be brought cheaply over the counter like paracetamol, calpol etc and let people who need specialist baby milk, IVF etc have what they need!"

Siani Driver, from the Worcestershire Mums Network, said she was concerned about the cuts particularly those relating to IVF.

She said: "It's very disappointing, another example of austerity hitting those who need help most.

"It's also a shame that there wasn't more effort made to garner the public's views on the proposals.

"We pay for our NHS, cutting treatments and raising costs just seems vastly unfair when our taxes and national insurance are supposed to fund such things.

"It's the same with education - families being asked to pay for textbooks.

"We are paying twice for services.

"We are told 'the money isn't there' but that's sadly not true as is evidenced in many other areas where money is available - roads, arms, coalition deals - the money is there, it's just being prioritised very wrongly."

Clarissa-Jane Naisbett said simply: "Well this is a kick in the gut.

"As a woman who is infertile at 21 this breaks my heart."

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Mixed response to news that IVF treatment will be reduced and some medicines no longer prescribed in Worcestershire - Worcester News

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