Forum Topic

Saving the NHS money?

Along with many others in this country I have Vitamin D deficiency so have to take daily supplements, as the injections are now non existent. I also have to have tablets with no added cacium which many of them contain, my G.P. managed to find some which weren't available on prescription, they are around £8 for 120 tablets. The pharmacy I usually use does not stock this particular brand but has another - which is available on prescription in bottles of 30 for around the same price as the others. That means that the NHS is paying four times the cost - it might be me but that seems outrageous. I can afford to pay and will do so, even though I now get free prescriptions, but for those who cannot a prescription will be necessary. I wonder how many other supplements, drugs etc. this affects? NICE are always saying that the NHS cannot afford certain drugs, but I wonder if anyone has looked at this situation, and how much might be saved? Perhaps then the drugs for serious life threatening illnesses people are denied now will be affordable, just a thought.

Vanessa Smith ● 5036d10 Comments

I'm not going specifically to save the NHS money at all - although thanks for the weather update. I will buy Evening Primrose and Cod Liver Oil there, better dosage and huge packs available at the Olde Vitamin Shoppe - but we are actually going to have a short break and to do our Chrstmas Shopping. I am going to write to NICE about the Vitamin D business as I just think this may well be the tip of an iceberg, lots of small things that possibly add up to a considerable amount of money.

Vanessa Smith ● 5031d

Snow is falling in New England right now. I spoke to my sister in Hartford CT tonight. Roads are dangerous and then power is cut off.When the time comes for you tom fly out of Boston Logan Airport, treat yourself to a meal at the Boston Bar and Grill in the terminal building just before going through security. The food and service is excellent and your receipt enables you to go through the Fasttrack lane even if you have an Economy Class ticket.It seems to be a bit drastic to go to Boston to save the NHS money but well done. The country and the NHS is in serious mess after 13 years if Phoney Bliar and Gordun Brun and your private initiative to resort to a private enterprise solution to a NHS problem is to be applauded.Why don 't you write to your MP about it ?

David Giles ● 5031d

Evidently I'm a lurgic to EPO according to my carer,evidently I tried it before and I ended up in a neo coma (so I'm told). So it's sunshine or bust,(I think I prefer the latter as far as I can remember).   We did have 23 seconds of sunshine at 4.57pm which I lapped up,does that count?

Tony Wood ● 5035d

I find EPO great for hair and skin, but if you are Vit. D deficient you need a proper supplement or roughly six weeks languishing somewhere hot and sunny. You will notice a lot of difference after a while.

Vanessa Smith ● 5036d

Hope to do Route 66 when my other half retires and also go to Alaska to see the bears for our Ruby Wedding Anniversary. I must admit I could do without flying - we had a very bumpy ride to Boston a couple of years ago - but how else can you get to these places. We flew Qantas in a A380 last year to Oz - just weeks before there was all the hoo-ha with their engines, but it is the safest form of travel.

Vanessa Smith ● 5036d

Yes we've been probably 5-6 times to New England and lots to the rest of the US including driving the old Route 66.  We had a nasty trip to Texas,plane plummeted out of the sky 'cos an engine in the tail exploded,Cazzy wont fly now and I'm less keen than I was,kids thought it was great though.  Good luck with the lottery :0)

Tony Wood ● 5036d

Yes - I love Cape Cod - pending a huge lottery win that's where I'm heading, "doing" New England in the Fall is one of the wonders of nature. Hope to get to visit Salem this time. Also if you've not been, do go to Harvard Yard and the JFK Presidential library and museum, just beyond words.

Vanessa Smith ● 5036d

I'm a vitamin D defective too :0),no sunshine up here just rain,it's raining now,it'll probably rain tomorrow too. Lashings of cod liver oil,not tried EPO yet does it work? I love Boston,if you haven't been before (I guess you have) then you must take the road to Hyannis,as it's autumn (reluctantly "Fall") the trees will be amazing.I'm a tad jealous!

Tony Wood ● 5036d

Thanks Keith,I like to take Evening Primrose and Cod Liver Oil too - but I'm off to the States in a couple of weeks and they are a lot cheaper there and the dosage is bigger too, I shall stock up in Boston!

Vanessa Smith ● 5036d

Vanessa,Just to mark your card.Holland and Barrett were doing a buy one get one for 1p promotion last weekend and I do not know if it's still on.I bought wifey some cod liver oil and iron tabs.

Keith Iddon ● 5036d