Gordon Brown is facing a backlash from charities representing up to 15 million people with long-term health conditions after it emerged a promise to give them all free prescriptions is likely to be shelved until after the general election.
The prime minister made the pledge to people with conditions such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes and depression in his speech at the Labour party conference in September 2008.
Instead of implementing the change for all those patients, it is now expected to be included in the party’s manifesto.
A coalition of 20 health charities fears that, with Labour behind in the opinion polls and the Tories giving no firm commitment to the plan, the promise will never be realised.
Mikis Euripides, director of policy and public affairs for Asthma UK, which is leading the coalition, said: “If the Labour party decides to put something in the manifesto instead of acting now, that would be a complete failure on the part of the prime minister to keep a promise.”
Read more at The Observer.
Tags: Prescription charges
