Filthy dirty, infectious and hard. Fuck, it's exquisite; disgustingly honest and disturbingly sexy. If it doesn't make you uncomfortable, there may be something wrong with you.
Riz's lyrics are dark, unrelenting and brutal. His language paints a vivid barrage of images, switching effortlessly between explicitly describing scenes to conveying intense and complex desires. His pacing is like a predator toying with helpless pray, even the timing and sound of his breathing help shape the overall soundscape.
Plan B is characteristically vicious; he tags in to deliver a blunt but stylish and clever verbal assault. Aruba Red's pretty and innocent-sounding voice provides distressfully haunting contrast to the two male antagonists, yet carrying an edge of it's own. The beat is a distorted left right left to the head, driving the track like a fatal beating played in slow motion.
The video doesn't let the track down. Plan B (Adulthood, Harry Brown) and Riz MC (E4's Dead Set, Four Lions) are both accomplished and extremely talented actors. Julie Whittaker is no stranger to the camera and displays endearing vulnerability in a sexy and provocative way. Her palpable distress makes the video thrilling and compulsive viewing.
A somewhat difficult but addictive listen. If you like this track, try the version without Plan B that's on the single. I love Plan B, his Who Needs Actions is a masterpiece, but Riz clearly didn't need him to make this a superb showcase. I can't wait for the album.
Spotify link to the single. The version with Plan B is track 2.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Monday, 4 October 2010
Should we petition Melanie Phillips to apologise?
There is a "petition for a full and public apology from Melanie Philips for her article 'Druids as a religion? Stones of praise here we come'" A friend suggested I and "anyone who wouldn't stand it if someone took the piss out of your religion" sign the petition.
To me, what Melanie Philips has written is spectacularly wrong and offensive. It's presumably broadly offensive to anyone who has a non-mainstream faith. That said, I will absolutely "stand it" while she takes the piss out of my religion and I'd encourage others to stand up for her right to do exactly that.
Speaking as a Neo-Pagan, we're a (relatively) small bunch and we don't bother anyone. We mostly try to live good lives in harmony with the planet and it's many inhabitants. I think free speech and freedom of religion are more important than keeping such idiots as Melanie Phillips from offending minorities (even though I'm in the minority she's going after.)
I find the idea of a criminal offence of "incitement to religious hatred" to be far more disgusting and corrosive in a civilised society and vastly more dangerous to a culture that allowing people like Melanie Phillips to spout her rubbish. I'd rather we lead by tolerant example than follow the example of religious extremists who threaten "death to those who oppose us." I have no problem with people drawing Mohammed so if she wants to demean me because of my beliefs, or insult those who believe in religious tolerance and equality in general, she can knock herself out. She's a sensationalist bigot and I hope I'm not her target audience.
I'm not going to petition for an apology; she's entitled to her opinion and and is entitled to share it. If some rag will publish her ravings, well that's just the price of free speech. It's The Mail, it's not like it was in a real newspaper. Faith is irrational, making a rational argument for any religion is a losing proposition (as the article's comments seem to have point out re: Christianity.)
She does *almost* ask some valid questions. How does one truly define a religion? Are my beliefs any more or less valid than an atheist's or humanist's? Why should my religion be treated any different to those of an atheist organisation? Unfortunately she's an idiot that didn't do her homework. She rants,
"But there are many who subscribe to no belief system at all and who would say they, too, want to live in harmony with the earth and everything in it. Are they, therefore, also to be regarded as religious folk and given charitable status?"
I would direct Ms Philips to the British Humanist Association, Registered Charity No. 285987.
I'd rather show her that we can tolerate her misguided blathering and turn the other cheek. We are better than her. I don't need her apology and I value free speech and the freedom of the press too highly to try and force her to apologise.
While discussing global warming, Melanie Phillips said "It was no accident that Hitler was a green." - She's Jewish. She's an outspoken critic of gay rights and seems to think Obama is a closet Muslim and that global warming is a myth. She's a Daily Mail columnist who described The Guardian as "an evil newspaper." Is she really worth arguing with, is she worth protesting?
"Can it be long before the BBC transmits Stones Of Praise, or solemnly invites listeners to Radio 4’s Thought For The Day to genuflect to a tree?" she asks derisively. Frankly, when indeed? I've not heard a Druid or Wiccan or any Neo-Pagan on Radio 4's TFTD, did I perhaps miss it? I can't find any mention of it online if there was such a thing. Akhandadhi Das is a "Vaishnava Hindu theologian" and he's presented Thought For The Day. Hindus made up less than 1.5% of the UK (according to the 2001 census.) Melanie is Jewish and only about half a percent of the England and Wales were Jewish in 2001. Would it really be so unreasonable to represent smaller faiths as well?
I don't think Radio 4's Thought For The Day should really be any kind of benchmark however, it's presenters aren't above disgusting behaviour either. The first example alphabetically on the list is Anne Atkins:
"In 1998 the Press Complaints Commission ruled that an article written by [Anne Atkins] in The Sun objecting to Government proposals to make the age of consent for homosexuals equal to that for heterosexuals broke the industry's Code of Conduct. In the article she stated that "this is not opinion: it is fact. The life expectancy of a gay man without HIV is a shocking 43 years" and "a gay man is, alarmingly, 17 times more likely to be a paedophile than a straight man". The PCC ruled that these were not proven facts and that she had been misleading the readers. The Sun apologised."
Melanie correctly acknowledges, "After all, the Druids don’t do any harm to anyone." yet she seems to take personal offence to the spread of paganism. "Astonishingly, around 100 members of the Armed Forces now classify themselves as pagans, and a further 30 as witches." The United Kingdom has a religiously diverse make-up, should those who defend it not be given the same freedom of religion? I'm of the personal opinion that if you're willing to give your life for your country, you can worship any and all gods, trees or honey bees that you choose. Or none at all. Just like the rest of us.
She then moved on to Police officers, "There are thought to be about 500 pagan police officers. A Pagan Police Association has even been set up to represent officers who ‘worship nature and believe in many gods’."
"There are thought to be about 500 pagan police officers. A Pagan Police Association has even been set up to represent officers who ‘worship nature and believe in many gods’."
"They have been given the right to take days off to perform rituals, such as leaving food out for the dead, dressing up as ghosts and casting spells, or celebrating the sun god with ‘unabashed sexuality and promiscuity’."
"Political correctness gone mad or what? As one disgusted police officer exploded: ‘What has it come to when a cop gets time off so he can sit about making spells or dance around the place drinking honey beer with a wand in his hand?’"
In answer to the unnamed disgusted police office, the same place we've always been. At Christmas people celebrate with pine trees that they cover in lights and place winged dolls on top. Catholics believe that the bread and white transform into the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ when they take communion.
Melanie had the audacity to ask, "How on earth has our supposedly rational society come to subscribe to so much totally barking mumbo-jumbo?" Are the rites and beliefs of other religions more rational? A police officer can get time off for other religions, why not a Pagan religion? In answer to Melanie's question, "Political correctness gone mad or what?", it would seem the answer is "Or what", as she's the one that's mad. Mad at those of us with the audacity to think freedom to worship and freedom of religion should apply to all, not those with 0.5% or more market share. Shame on her.
To me, what Melanie Philips has written is spectacularly wrong and offensive. It's presumably broadly offensive to anyone who has a non-mainstream faith. That said, I will absolutely "stand it" while she takes the piss out of my religion and I'd encourage others to stand up for her right to do exactly that.
Speaking as a Neo-Pagan, we're a (relatively) small bunch and we don't bother anyone. We mostly try to live good lives in harmony with the planet and it's many inhabitants. I think free speech and freedom of religion are more important than keeping such idiots as Melanie Phillips from offending minorities (even though I'm in the minority she's going after.)
I find the idea of a criminal offence of "incitement to religious hatred" to be far more disgusting and corrosive in a civilised society and vastly more dangerous to a culture that allowing people like Melanie Phillips to spout her rubbish. I'd rather we lead by tolerant example than follow the example of religious extremists who threaten "death to those who oppose us." I have no problem with people drawing Mohammed so if she wants to demean me because of my beliefs, or insult those who believe in religious tolerance and equality in general, she can knock herself out. She's a sensationalist bigot and I hope I'm not her target audience.
I'm not going to petition for an apology; she's entitled to her opinion and and is entitled to share it. If some rag will publish her ravings, well that's just the price of free speech. It's The Mail, it's not like it was in a real newspaper. Faith is irrational, making a rational argument for any religion is a losing proposition (as the article's comments seem to have point out re: Christianity.)
She does *almost* ask some valid questions. How does one truly define a religion? Are my beliefs any more or less valid than an atheist's or humanist's? Why should my religion be treated any different to those of an atheist organisation? Unfortunately she's an idiot that didn't do her homework. She rants,
"But there are many who subscribe to no belief system at all and who would say they, too, want to live in harmony with the earth and everything in it. Are they, therefore, also to be regarded as religious folk and given charitable status?"
I would direct Ms Philips to the British Humanist Association, Registered Charity No. 285987.
I'd rather show her that we can tolerate her misguided blathering and turn the other cheek. We are better than her. I don't need her apology and I value free speech and the freedom of the press too highly to try and force her to apologise.
While discussing global warming, Melanie Phillips said "It was no accident that Hitler was a green." - She's Jewish. She's an outspoken critic of gay rights and seems to think Obama is a closet Muslim and that global warming is a myth. She's a Daily Mail columnist who described The Guardian as "an evil newspaper." Is she really worth arguing with, is she worth protesting?
"Can it be long before the BBC transmits Stones Of Praise, or solemnly invites listeners to Radio 4’s Thought For The Day to genuflect to a tree?" she asks derisively. Frankly, when indeed? I've not heard a Druid or Wiccan or any Neo-Pagan on Radio 4's TFTD, did I perhaps miss it? I can't find any mention of it online if there was such a thing. Akhandadhi Das is a "Vaishnava Hindu theologian" and he's presented Thought For The Day. Hindus made up less than 1.5% of the UK (according to the 2001 census.) Melanie is Jewish and only about half a percent of the England and Wales were Jewish in 2001. Would it really be so unreasonable to represent smaller faiths as well?
I don't think Radio 4's Thought For The Day should really be any kind of benchmark however, it's presenters aren't above disgusting behaviour either. The first example alphabetically on the list is Anne Atkins:
"In 1998 the Press Complaints Commission ruled that an article written by [Anne Atkins] in The Sun objecting to Government proposals to make the age of consent for homosexuals equal to that for heterosexuals broke the industry's Code of Conduct. In the article she stated that "this is not opinion: it is fact. The life expectancy of a gay man without HIV is a shocking 43 years" and "a gay man is, alarmingly, 17 times more likely to be a paedophile than a straight man". The PCC ruled that these were not proven facts and that she had been misleading the readers. The Sun apologised."
Melanie correctly acknowledges, "After all, the Druids don’t do any harm to anyone." yet she seems to take personal offence to the spread of paganism. "Astonishingly, around 100 members of the Armed Forces now classify themselves as pagans, and a further 30 as witches." The United Kingdom has a religiously diverse make-up, should those who defend it not be given the same freedom of religion? I'm of the personal opinion that if you're willing to give your life for your country, you can worship any and all gods, trees or honey bees that you choose. Or none at all. Just like the rest of us.
She then moved on to Police officers, "There are thought to be about 500 pagan police officers. A Pagan Police Association has even been set up to represent officers who ‘worship nature and believe in many gods’."
"There are thought to be about 500 pagan police officers. A Pagan Police Association has even been set up to represent officers who ‘worship nature and believe in many gods’."
"They have been given the right to take days off to perform rituals, such as leaving food out for the dead, dressing up as ghosts and casting spells, or celebrating the sun god with ‘unabashed sexuality and promiscuity’."
"Political correctness gone mad or what? As one disgusted police officer exploded: ‘What has it come to when a cop gets time off so he can sit about making spells or dance around the place drinking honey beer with a wand in his hand?’"
In answer to the unnamed disgusted police office, the same place we've always been. At Christmas people celebrate with pine trees that they cover in lights and place winged dolls on top. Catholics believe that the bread and white transform into the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ when they take communion.
Melanie had the audacity to ask, "How on earth has our supposedly rational society come to subscribe to so much totally barking mumbo-jumbo?" Are the rites and beliefs of other religions more rational? A police officer can get time off for other religions, why not a Pagan religion? In answer to Melanie's question, "Political correctness gone mad or what?", it would seem the answer is "Or what", as she's the one that's mad. Mad at those of us with the audacity to think freedom to worship and freedom of religion should apply to all, not those with 0.5% or more market share. Shame on her.
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Prescription charges for England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, PPC's and General Information
If you live in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may currently be paying prescription charges for any medication you require. Wales is free from prescription charges already. If you need several prescriptions within 3 months or a year, it may be worth looking into Prescription Prepayment Certificates. These let you pay a flat fee for a given length of time (3 or 4 months or 12 months) then any and all prescriptions you need during that time are already covered. There are also tips on if you can get free prescriptions, have assistance paying for them or reduce the number of prescriptions you require.
I take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information, I culled most of it from this thread on hotukdeals started by saxo_appeal. Most of the credit should go to saxo_appeal and other posters. This was done on the 9th of Jan 2010, always check the most up-to-date information for your country before doing anything. (I've altered, corrected and paraphrased stuff, nothing should necessarily be taken as a direct quote, I've tried to leave credit where possible, usual disclaimers apply.)
Edited to include the post from hermione25 and again to include Pharmacy First information.
Wales
Since the 1st of April 2007 pharmacies in Wales have stopped charging for dispensing your prescription as long as it was written by a GP in Wales. From the same date, prescription pre-payment certificates were no longer available for Welsh patients. Free prescriptions!
Scotland
£38.00 (twelve months) and £13.00 (four months)
yipaykaya pointed out that from April 2010 this will drop to £28 for 12 months and £10 for 4 months from April 2010.
http://www.infoscotland.com/prescriptions/prepayment-certificates.html
PPC's can be purchased for a four or twelve-month period. If you need more than three prescription items in a four-month period, or more than nine prescription items in twelve months, you will find it cheaper to buy a PPC.
There doesn't appear to be a way to pay by Direct Debit, but it's a lot cheaper than England anyway (at £13 for 4 months in Scotland as opposed to ten MONTHLY payments of £10.40 on DD in England.) It would appear to be a bad idea to buy a 12 month period at the moment as the prices will drop in April.
England
£104.00 (twelve months) and £28.25 (three months)
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx
If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC. The charge for a single prescription item is £7.20, whereas a three month PPC will cost you £28.25 and a 12 month PPC £104.00.
morlspin said [the price in England is expected to be] going up in April (implying buying 12 months certificate would be a good idea) and that the English card may be used up in Scotland, but not the other way around.
nickleface pointed out you can Pay by Direct Debit over 10 months for £10.40 per month, this would likely make it the most affordable way of dealing with English prescription charges, especially if they do go up in April.
Northern Ireland
£25.00 (twelve months) and £9.00 (three months) - Prescriptions will be free as of April 2010 (so don't buy a twelve month!)
http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-dhssps-201108-free_prescriptions_gets
As with Scotland, there doesn't appear to be a way to pay by Direct Debit, but it's a lot cheaper than England anyway (at £9 for 3 months in NI as opposed to ten MONTHLY payments of £10.40 on DD in England.) It would appear to be a bad idea to buy a 3 month period at the moment as the prices will be free as of April.
Assistance Affording Prescriptions for People with a Low Income
GSD and Reens pointed out you may be able to get free prescriptions if your income is below a certain amount. It may be worth looking into. It is called the low income scheme.
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1125.aspx
There's a HC1 form you can fill in if you are on a low wage and they assess what you have told them and you either get full help for a year or half help. They respond pretty fast too. You can get the form from your local CAB or order from the NHS website
Minimising Non-PPC Prescription Spending - 2 or 3 Months Supply
awhitham's nurse gave him a tip to save money. "Have 2 or 3 of each inhaler prescribed at once. Each set of 2 or 3 counts as one prescription charge and lasts months!"
There is some debate on HUKD about this, hotukdeals user "pill" explained that GP's are incentivised to reduce the amounts they prescribe, as this saves that NHS a huge some of money. This is the reason that few give now give more than 28 days supply as this helps to cut waste.
Forensis responded with,
"For people on long term medication, who are the only people who would be prescribed large quantities, giving them 1 months supply is more expensive. As you probably know, pharmacists are paid per item they dispense. By providing one months supply the NHS is effectively paying treble what they other would be. There's plenty of links out there, I'm surprised at the amount of people saying 1 months supply is normal.
'Purchasing prescription drugs in a three-month supply rather than a one-month supply has long been regarded as a way to reduce the cost of drugs for patients and third-party payers.':
http://www.physorg.com/news177919033.html
'The Department of Health recommends that NHS prescriptions for longer than 3 months supply should not be routinely given.':
http://www.brightonhovecitypct.nhs.uk/healthprofessionals/clinical-areas/prescribing/documents/TravelmedicinesPIL.pdf
The issue of waste is more easily solved by GPs setting a time limit between repeat requests. You can horde 1 months supply if you're allowed to request a repeat every week."
It's still worth asking your doctor though!
Minimising Non-PPC Prescription Spending - OTC Medication Cheaper Than Prescription
If you are just prescribed something over that you can buy over the counter without prescription, paracetamol for example, check at your pharmacy to see if it's cheaper to just buy it outright than pay the prescription charge to have it. Your doctor will generally make you aware if this is the case, however it's worth checking.
Pharmacy First - Free Medication for Minor Ailments
There's a scheme called the Pharmacy First that encourages you to visit your pharmacy for "minor ailments" so that you get seen quickly and don't tie up your local GP. It's free and if using a PPC or for some other reason you don't pay for prescriptions (like you live in Wales), so are the relevant medications. Not all pharmacies participate in this scheme, but depending on where you live you may find almost all do. In Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland all the pharmacies do, as do most of the ones in Torfaen (just two random examples from Google) and more and more pharmacies are signing up.
You may have to fill in some forms, sign up with the pharmacy or use some vouchers or something similar. I'd advise you to check with your local pharmacy and check on the NHS website to see if any in your area participate in the scheme. A list of ailments that appear to be generally covered are:
Refunds for Prescriptions You've Already Paid For (Or Need While Waiting for your PPC)
NHSBSA website states "If you have to pay a prescription charge while you are waiting for your PPC, you may get a refund as long as you have an NHS receipt form FP57. The pharmacist or dispensing doctor can only issue an FP57 at the time you pay for a prescription charge - they cannot issue you one later. You can claim the prescription charge(s) back up to 3 months after paying. The FP57 tells you what to do. But remember the PPC itself can only be backdated by one month."
morlspin clarified "We can only backdate the certs for 1 calendar month, therefore any prescriptions purchased outside of the month backdate would not be refundable"
hermione25 gave this advice, "If the 12 month payment is a bit steep for a one off payment, and you are **** like me and remember to put dates on the calendar, you can get 4 months worth of prescriptions for 3 months by renewing them strictly every 28 days. This means you only need to buy 3 x 3 month prepayment certificates per year, rather than 4."
For example Buy 3 month prepayment certificate on 1st April (lasts till 30th June).
Order 1 lot of prescriptions (I have 4 prescriptions a month for asthma & eczema) on 1st April, 2nd lot 29th April, 3rd lot 27th May, 4th lot 24th June. You then don't need to renew your next prepayment certificate until 28 days later, 22nd July when you do the whole thing over again.
You have to decline to automatically renew the certificate when you get the reminder through the post, however you can simply renew via the internet whenever you choose to, using the number on the last (expired) card."
MedEx - Free Prescriptions for Suffers of Specific Ailments
bingohomer - Medical exemption (MedEx) certificates [entitle you to free prescriptions and] are issued on application to people who have:
* A permanent fistula (for example caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy) requiring an appliance or continuous surgical dressing.
* A form of hypoadrenalism (for example Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is needed.
* Diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism.
* Diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone.
* Hypoparathyroidism.
* Myasthenia gravis.
* Myxoedema (hypothyroidism requiring thyroid hormone replacement).
* Epilepsy requiring continuous anticonvulsive therapy.
* Continuing physical disability which means the person can't go out without the help of another person. Temporary disabilities do not count even if they last for several months.
You are also issued with a MedEx if you are undergoing treatment for cancer. This includes treatment for the effects of cancer or for the effects of cancer treatments.
To apply for a MedEx certificate ask your doctor for an FP92A form. Your GP, hospital or service doctor will sign the form to confirm that your statement is correct (or, at your GP's discretion, a member of the practice who has access to your medical records).
Your certificate will be valid from one month before the date that the NHS Business Services Authority receives the application form.
The MedEx lasts for five years and then needs to be renewed. You may receive a reminder that your certificate needs to be renewed. If you don't receive a reminder, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is renewed.
I take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information, I culled most of it from this thread on hotukdeals started by saxo_appeal. Most of the credit should go to saxo_appeal and other posters. This was done on the 9th of Jan 2010, always check the most up-to-date information for your country before doing anything. (I've altered, corrected and paraphrased stuff, nothing should necessarily be taken as a direct quote, I've tried to leave credit where possible, usual disclaimers apply.)
Edited to include the post from hermione25 and again to include Pharmacy First information.
Wales
Since the 1st of April 2007 pharmacies in Wales have stopped charging for dispensing your prescription as long as it was written by a GP in Wales. From the same date, prescription pre-payment certificates were no longer available for Welsh patients. Free prescriptions!
Scotland
£38.00 (twelve months) and £13.00 (four months)
yipaykaya pointed out that from April 2010 this will drop to £28 for 12 months and £10 for 4 months from April 2010.
http://www.infoscotland.com/prescriptions/prepayment-certificates.html
PPC's can be purchased for a four or twelve-month period. If you need more than three prescription items in a four-month period, or more than nine prescription items in twelve months, you will find it cheaper to buy a PPC.
There doesn't appear to be a way to pay by Direct Debit, but it's a lot cheaper than England anyway (at £13 for 4 months in Scotland as opposed to ten MONTHLY payments of £10.40 on DD in England.) It would appear to be a bad idea to buy a 12 month period at the moment as the prices will drop in April.
England
£104.00 (twelve months) and £28.25 (three months)
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx
If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC. The charge for a single prescription item is £7.20, whereas a three month PPC will cost you £28.25 and a 12 month PPC £104.00.
morlspin said [the price in England is expected to be] going up in April (implying buying 12 months certificate would be a good idea) and that the English card may be used up in Scotland, but not the other way around.
nickleface pointed out you can Pay by Direct Debit over 10 months for £10.40 per month, this would likely make it the most affordable way of dealing with English prescription charges, especially if they do go up in April.
Northern Ireland
£25.00 (twelve months) and £9.00 (three months) - Prescriptions will be free as of April 2010 (so don't buy a twelve month!)
http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-dhssps-201108-free_prescriptions_gets
As with Scotland, there doesn't appear to be a way to pay by Direct Debit, but it's a lot cheaper than England anyway (at £9 for 3 months in NI as opposed to ten MONTHLY payments of £10.40 on DD in England.) It would appear to be a bad idea to buy a 3 month period at the moment as the prices will be free as of April.
Assistance Affording Prescriptions for People with a Low Income
GSD and Reens pointed out you may be able to get free prescriptions if your income is below a certain amount. It may be worth looking into. It is called the low income scheme.
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1125.aspx
There's a HC1 form you can fill in if you are on a low wage and they assess what you have told them and you either get full help for a year or half help. They respond pretty fast too. You can get the form from your local CAB or order from the NHS website
Minimising Non-PPC Prescription Spending - 2 or 3 Months Supply
awhitham's nurse gave him a tip to save money. "Have 2 or 3 of each inhaler prescribed at once. Each set of 2 or 3 counts as one prescription charge and lasts months!"
There is some debate on HUKD about this, hotukdeals user "pill" explained that GP's are incentivised to reduce the amounts they prescribe, as this saves that NHS a huge some of money. This is the reason that few give now give more than 28 days supply as this helps to cut waste.
Forensis responded with,
"For people on long term medication, who are the only people who would be prescribed large quantities, giving them 1 months supply is more expensive. As you probably know, pharmacists are paid per item they dispense. By providing one months supply the NHS is effectively paying treble what they other would be. There's plenty of links out there, I'm surprised at the amount of people saying 1 months supply is normal.
'Purchasing prescription drugs in a three-month supply rather than a one-month supply has long been regarded as a way to reduce the cost of drugs for patients and third-party payers.':
http://www.physorg.com/news177919033.html
'The Department of Health recommends that NHS prescriptions for longer than 3 months supply should not be routinely given.':
http://www.brightonhovecitypct.nhs.uk/healthprofessionals/clinical-areas/prescribing/documents/TravelmedicinesPIL.pdf
The issue of waste is more easily solved by GPs setting a time limit between repeat requests. You can horde 1 months supply if you're allowed to request a repeat every week."
It's still worth asking your doctor though!
Minimising Non-PPC Prescription Spending - OTC Medication Cheaper Than Prescription
If you are just prescribed something over that you can buy over the counter without prescription, paracetamol for example, check at your pharmacy to see if it's cheaper to just buy it outright than pay the prescription charge to have it. Your doctor will generally make you aware if this is the case, however it's worth checking.
Pharmacy First - Free Medication for Minor Ailments
There's a scheme called the Pharmacy First that encourages you to visit your pharmacy for "minor ailments" so that you get seen quickly and don't tie up your local GP. It's free and if using a PPC or for some other reason you don't pay for prescriptions (like you live in Wales), so are the relevant medications. Not all pharmacies participate in this scheme, but depending on where you live you may find almost all do. In Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland all the pharmacies do, as do most of the ones in Torfaen (just two random examples from Google) and more and more pharmacies are signing up.
You may have to fill in some forms, sign up with the pharmacy or use some vouchers or something similar. I'd advise you to check with your local pharmacy and check on the NHS website to see if any in your area participate in the scheme. A list of ailments that appear to be generally covered are:
- Coughs
- Colds
- Sore throats
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Stomach upsets
- Colic (babies)
- Thrush
- Cystitis (for women)
- Head lice
- Eczema or dermatitis
- Nappy rash
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Conjunctivitis (sticky eye)
- Warts
- Chicken pox
- Verrucas
- Threadworm
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Pharmacy/Pages/Commonconditions.aspx
All pharmacies can provide advice on some common health problems, and offer advice and medicines that will help to alleviate them. In addition some pharmacies run a minor ailment service, which means they can supply medicines for certain specific conditions on the NHS. It is up to local primary care trusts (PCTs) to decide whether pharmacies in your area provide these services.
If your pharmacy runs a minor ailment service for eczema, for example, that means your pharmacist can supply medicines for this condition and you will only pay the standard prescription charge. Or if you are exempt from paying prescription charges, because you're over 60, for example, you will not pay for the medicine.Refunds for Prescriptions You've Already Paid For (Or Need While Waiting for your PPC)
NHSBSA website states "If you have to pay a prescription charge while you are waiting for your PPC, you may get a refund as long as you have an NHS receipt form FP57. The pharmacist or dispensing doctor can only issue an FP57 at the time you pay for a prescription charge - they cannot issue you one later. You can claim the prescription charge(s) back up to 3 months after paying. The FP57 tells you what to do. But remember the PPC itself can only be backdated by one month."
morlspin clarified "We can only backdate the certs for 1 calendar month, therefore any prescriptions purchased outside of the month backdate would not be refundable"
hermione25 gave this advice, "If the 12 month payment is a bit steep for a one off payment, and you are **** like me and remember to put dates on the calendar, you can get 4 months worth of prescriptions for 3 months by renewing them strictly every 28 days. This means you only need to buy 3 x 3 month prepayment certificates per year, rather than 4."
For example Buy 3 month prepayment certificate on 1st April (lasts till 30th June).
Order 1 lot of prescriptions (I have 4 prescriptions a month for asthma & eczema) on 1st April, 2nd lot 29th April, 3rd lot 27th May, 4th lot 24th June. You then don't need to renew your next prepayment certificate until 28 days later, 22nd July when you do the whole thing over again.
You have to decline to automatically renew the certificate when you get the reminder through the post, however you can simply renew via the internet whenever you choose to, using the number on the last (expired) card."
MedEx - Free Prescriptions for Suffers of Specific Ailments
bingohomer - Medical exemption (MedEx) certificates [entitle you to free prescriptions and] are issued on application to people who have:
* A permanent fistula (for example caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy) requiring an appliance or continuous surgical dressing.
* A form of hypoadrenalism (for example Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is needed.
* Diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism.
* Diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone.
* Hypoparathyroidism.
* Myasthenia gravis.
* Myxoedema (hypothyroidism requiring thyroid hormone replacement).
* Epilepsy requiring continuous anticonvulsive therapy.
* Continuing physical disability which means the person can't go out without the help of another person. Temporary disabilities do not count even if they last for several months.
You are also issued with a MedEx if you are undergoing treatment for cancer. This includes treatment for the effects of cancer or for the effects of cancer treatments.
To apply for a MedEx certificate ask your doctor for an FP92A form. Your GP, hospital or service doctor will sign the form to confirm that your statement is correct (or, at your GP's discretion, a member of the practice who has access to your medical records).
Your certificate will be valid from one month before the date that the NHS Business Services Authority receives the application form.
The MedEx lasts for five years and then needs to be renewed. You may receive a reminder that your certificate needs to be renewed. If you don't receive a reminder, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is renewed.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
How UK Napster users can access the pretty US Beta
The Yanks get a pretty new Beta of the streaming Napster site, music.napster.com , however my UK account won't sign into it properly. There is a workaround however. The instructions are using Firefox, although Chrome will work if you spoof Firefox's User Agent.
Open http://music.napster.com
Click "sign in" near the top left of the page. This will pop open a login box. Enter your UK Napster login details. Click "Sign In".
The login box will now change to have the normal Napster login page inside it. Right click on this embedded page, select "This Frame -> Open Frame in New Tab".
Move to the new tab you've just opened, it should be the normal "www.napster.co.uk" homepage. Click "Member Login" and login as usual. It should sign you into your old faithful Napster account.
While you are still signed into the old Napster, go back to the tab with Beta Napster open. Click the login box's "x " to close JUST the login box, DO NOT CLOSE THE WHOLE TAB.
Press F5 or click Refresh, you should now be signed into the new pretty Napster Beta. You can close the tab with the old Napster in it.
There are other ways off doing this whole process, but this is the only method I could get to work consistently. The new Beta is much prettier and generally more reliable for me than the old Napster, I recommend you give it a try!
Open http://music.napster.com
Click "sign in" near the top left of the page. This will pop open a login box. Enter your UK Napster login details. Click "Sign In".
The login box will now change to have the normal Napster login page inside it. Right click on this embedded page, select "This Frame -> Open Frame in New Tab".
Move to the new tab you've just opened, it should be the normal "www.napster.co.uk" homepage. Click "Member Login" and login as usual. It should sign you into your old faithful Napster account.
While you are still signed into the old Napster, go back to the tab with Beta Napster open. Click the login box's "x " to close JUST the login box, DO NOT CLOSE THE WHOLE TAB.
Press F5 or click Refresh, you should now be signed into the new pretty Napster Beta. You can close the tab with the old Napster in it.
There are other ways off doing this whole process, but this is the only method I could get to work consistently. The new Beta is much prettier and generally more reliable for me than the old Napster, I recommend you give it a try!
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