"Prescription charges"

I have multiple health conditions (Crohn's Disease, Dry Eye Syndrome, Blepharitis and Tourette's Syndrome) and use a number of medications to control these conditions. I feel it is deeply unfair that I must pay for my prescriptions, especially given that other people with certain long-term conditions (epilepsy, diabeties and hypothyroidism) are excempt in England, and prescriptions are free for everyone in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In the past, I have been slightly over the threshold for a HC2 certificate. I was unable to afford my medications. I suffered a considerable amount of pain and discomfort because of this. I couldn't afford a pre-payment card either, so I often went without the medications. At the moment, I am a post-graduate student, and I have a HC2 certificate, and so I do not pay, but when I complete my course and (hopefully) get a job, I am fearful that I will, once again, be unable to afford my medications. Unfortunately, some of my health problems have gotten worse in recent months. For example, my Tourette's now causes me to have self-injury tics (including hitting myself and biting myself). Without medication, I am fearful that I could seriously hurt myself. As well as this, my opthalmologist has told me that I have some damage to the cornea, and that this could progress if I do not use my drops and ointments regularly. It is my understanding that if the scarring progresses, this could lead to a permentant visual impairment.

I believe Prescription charges should be abolished in England. Nobody chooses to get sick, and it is outrageous that people should have to pay so much for medicines they need to live and stay healthy. I also believe it is false economy. In my case, if I didn't use my eye drops and went blind, there would presumably be high social care costs related to this, so it would probably be cheaper for the NHS to give me medication for free rather than the state having to pay for PIP, ESA, bus pass, aids and adaptations and social care that a blind or partially sighted person would need.

If this isn't possible, people with long-term conditions could be excempt. Alternatively, the charge could reduced so that they are more affordable.