Do You Agree That Certain NHS Trusts Are Paying Patients Heating?
In the News
Listening to BBC Radio2 this lunchtime doctors are prescribing patients heating this winter as part of a cost-of-living trial.
The 'Warm Home Prescription' pilot, funded by taxpayers, has so far paid to heat the homes of 28 patients on low incomes.
It will be rolled out to 1,150 more across Gloucestershire, Aberdeenshire and Teeside because of its 'mind-blowing' success.
Do you think this should be paid out of the NHS budget?
Yes if it is needed and stops people ending up in hospital or if someone has medical equipment at home.
In an ideal world the answer would be No,but we have all read the heart breaking cases, of people considering putting their severely disabled child into care due to energy bills. Some equipment can't be turned off and the added pressure of the bills and not be able to pay the energy bills could tip people over the edge. If they have complex health problems, that can be exaparated by lack of heating and as a result end up in hospital.
Personally I didnt want to put the heating on, but my husband put it on the other day as I was wheezing and I'm an asthmatic, he doesn't feel the cold. I am not on benefits but I think everyone is being very mindful of energy bills,but he said it wasn't worth getting ill 
This seems to be a post code lottery again as only certain areas are doing this. All vulnerable people should be funded.
There just simply isn't enough money in the NHS budget for this and what about those in desperate need in the rest of the country. It would make more sense to give out electric blankets than try to get the NHS to pay heating bills.
absaloute joke, go to work pay taxes, energy goes up, mortgae goes up multiple times and have less money. then people who don't contribute get hand out after hand out and now getting heating paid. when it gets to the stage i'm working to just pay bills and no spare money, i will stop work and go on benefits..
growing up in 70's 80's we had single glazing and no central heating and the country managed then and houses were not as insulated as they are now. it did us no harm..
Pjran I live in one of those areas. How many people play the system eg claim sick for made up ailments as they can’t be made to work. It’s all a scam.
when you live in a area of high unemployment or people claiming ad see and know people who are in 50s and never worked a day in life by choice, but know how to play system, your outlook changes..
As I read it . The prescriptions were based on the patients need for heat or electricity for their condition ? Some needed a very warm environment due to their medical condition , others needed higher than average electrical consumption to power medical equipment in their home . Did you read and understand the article ?
Many of these patients would otherwise need to be in hospital (with associated costs and obviously taking up much needed beds ) .
Yes I think it is a great trial (and will probably actually save the NHS money ) .
Please don't fall into step with our serial "Non news chat posters " (we all know them 
) ?
TheChimp you don’t see the system getting abused and people choosing not to work? If you did you would think differently about these sort of things. If they are paying to heat up multiple houses it will cost a fortune, who pays for this the already burdened workers, who have their own bills and mortgage to pay. It won’t be worth working soon.
TheChimp I know not everyone is taking the mickey, but I personally know lots what do, not people I associate with but know. Families what have generations of people claiming. People in 50’s never worked a day in the life, people who work on low income and can use food banks and think it’s great, people who won’t work more than x amount of hours as they make more on tax credits, these people know how to play the system. It’s not just one or two there are loads at it around here. The whole system is broke, this just adds to more debt..
the idea off the scheme is good, but the cost isn’t when you take into a the spongers what will get it..
Antiwoke IMO, you are very cynical.
You seem to be tarring a lot of people on benefits with the same brush.
You try being on the basic social security, living in a bedsit and having no money. I did it a long, long time ago and it was grim. I know it's a bit better now, but if you think it's easy for the majority of claimants, you're mistaken.
TheChimp I’m going on what I see and know around where I live. I’m not saying some won’t struggle but for a lot around here it’s a lifestyle choice.
benefits are there as a safety net, you shouldn’t be able to afford to drink, smoke, tv subscriptions and the like. Till your back in work and paying for it yourself, but the system is so broke people who play the game live comfortably on them.
benefits shouldn’t be easy and they should be less money available, it might get a few back in work..
TheChimp the people who work shouldn’t be on peanuts but we pay more in and lose our standard of living to pay for others.
Going to work should be beneficial to yourself but when everything goes up apart from wage in real terms I have no sympathy for benefits people who get extra living payments and extra money.
It’s easy for people to throw around the daily Mail as a insult lol. Because in general it’s used by people who want more for nothing.
If workers are worse off to balance the books so should people on benefits, this scheme is another slap in the face to workers..
Antiwoke Hang on chaps , this isn't about "Benefits" why not read and understand the article ? -just for a change ?
This is about patients with medical conditions that require constant warmth and /or high powered specialist medical equipment in their homes . This initiative is almost certainly cheaper than having these patients in hospital . Which is why it's a "Prescription" , not a "Benefit" .
Maybe read the subject and other member's comments instead of just spouting off on a totally different subject ?
Golfforall this will be abused by some and it will only help those on benefits as workers will be made to pay for their energy.
If you had read my other comments in theory a good idea, but won’t work fairly others didn’t like my point of view. But I will defend it..
Antiwoke Well if you want to catch a debilitating condition which requires specialist medical equipment , you're welcome 
. I presume you are entitled to free prescriptions , a free Covid jab , a free Flu jab etc -Where's the difference ?
Golfforall what’s a free prescription? Workers pay for them, they also pay for flu jabs.
.Golfforall bit different a jab once a year to heating a house, prescriptions have always been free. This scheme just adds to the problem we face now of cost of living. I have halved my gas use since the same time last year and I’ve over halved my electric my a good amount. People need to help themselves, this just rubs salt into the wounds of the workers..
Antiwoke "Prescriptions have always been free " really ? Also bear in mind many folks who would benefit from this initiative are people suffering from historic industrial conditions for example miners with chronic respiration problems . Would help for them meet your approval ?
Pjran www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/who-can-get-free-prescriptions/ read the link they are free to people on benefits..
Antiwoke Read my lips !!!! This post has nothing to do (apart from in your mind ) with "Benefits" . It's about prescriptions for people with severe medical conditions ? Please read and understand .... Just for a change .
Golfforall ok there not the same in your head that’s fine. Op asked question I answered then others didn’t like my answer, I’m not changing my opinion..
Yes as if keeps people out of hospital it frees up more beds for people in the hospital were I work we starting to see more older people coming in with the cost of living like it is the government wants to do more for everyone even people in work the cost of living is madness right now
I hoped you would comment saying it should be available to all long term, ill people and not come out of the NHS budget not about benefit scrounging.
Antiwoke Let’s just hope you never find yourself in a position where you need Benefits or sickness benefits, You seem to think people on Benefits get Hundreds of pounds a week, A single person doesn’t receive more than £80 every two weeks and if they are Sick or for some reason ie late Buses taking them to appointments At Benefits places They are Sanctioned meaning they have Money refused for weeks because they were late or something, Those who are Sick Have to provide Medical Evidence and even go to Court to get Money 
So don’t be a Keyboard Warrior who Believes The Benefits Programmes The TV put out, Stop Blaming people who for what ever reason they can’t Work. “There but for the grace of God “ You sound a Typical Brainwashed Conservative supporter who Believes everything they Read in the Daily Fail and The programmes about Benefit Cheats etc.. Exactly what the government wants Workers to hate unemployed and disabled people, Try looking at what the government claims and attack them Not attacking those worse off than you,
smithpoppy303 if you had bothered to read my post, I see People taking the mickey and know many who choose to live on benefits. The system isn’t fit for purpose. Again easy to call people conservative and say believe what they read. It’s what I see.
Typical left attitude..
Money needs paying back and it’s the tax payers what suffer. This scheme is wrong.
Yes something needs to be done to help those who need help with heating because of severe health conditions, sadly some at home have to rely on oxygen or need equipment plugged in and heating on, The government should get a grip on this energy crisis and stop giving massive hand outs to other countries, Why are we having to rely on Russia/ other countries for our energy supplies why haven’t we got our own supplies 
Surely they can source it elsewhere instead of being held to ransom by these suppliers why aren’t they focusing on finding cheaper providers
Been thinking about buying a heated blanket (aka heated throw) and could it be more affordable for the general population than have heat on?
On Amazon it goes for £30~40 and can cover two people.
I'd really love to turn the heat on, but I'd rather put up with the cold weather than pay too much for gas/electricity. I've gotten used to cold showers though admittedly not everyone can, especially the elderly.
PhilipMarc there was an energy company that said they were going to give electric blankets out to customers, I can’t remember what electric company it was but I will see if I can find it, I’m almost certain Martin Lewis had added the information to his email that he sends to those who signed up to his website
PhilipMarc I bought an electric heated throw a few years ago because my husband doesn’t like the heating on high. He thinks 20 is enough but it’s not for me. I recommend buying one.
Energy company giving away 10,000 free electric blankets
The blankets will go to those most in need A leading energy company is offering free electric blankets to help customers over the colder months as bills rise. Octopus Energy is giving the blankets to some of its 3.1 million customers as energy prices for the average household hiked from £1,971 to £2,500 per year on October 1.
From today (October 10), Octopus Energy customers will be invited to fill in an online form to apply for a blanket - the business is offering 10,000 of the items to those most in need. This will likely include the elderly and those with medical conditions who require them to keep warm. www.heart.co.uk/news/energy-supplier-giving-away-free-electric-blankets/
smithpoppy303 That's good.
Looking on Amazon a decently sized one (large) costs £70+/- and 4p per hour. That's quite expensive, but it's cheap to keep it turned on.
PhilipMarc I think the prices have gone through the roof for Electric Blankets as soon as they were advising people that they were a cheap option for heat the sellers Bumped up the prices which is just greedy in my view, Yes I know that is how some companies get rich, I would never make a good business owner profiting from others especially with items like this, you wouldn’t mind if it was only a few pounds but some companies triple their prices, ie when the dreaded Rona was really bad Paracetamol doubled in price and it never went back to the price it was before hand, the chemist by me charge £6:99 for their own make of Soluble paracetamol( I find it hard to swallow the tablets) But if you go to Home Bargain they charge £2:99 for 24 soluble paracetamol, some unscrupulous companies about since Rona
PhilipMarc Beurer TS15 ecologic double heated under blanket @lloyds pharmacy, £28 was £55. I can’t get deals to load on here have deleted and reinstalled the app but still can’t share them Not electric blanket but wearable Electric Snug Rug £17:99 Amazon
Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanketsmithpoppy303 Ah, dang sold out.
www.amazon.co.uk/Silentnight-Comfort-Control-Electric-Blanket/dp/B08Z8FXQNZ/
If it were in stock I'd have bought it.
smithpoppy303 Post it as deals. It'll definitely help out.
I was skeptical about heated throw and still am since I never tried/owned one, but want to buy one now.
PhilipMarc Sadly I can’t seem to get the Deals to post ever since I have been a member here I can’t get Deals to upload I have to use my iPhone to get on the internet and use Apps I have deleted the app updated the app even tried going through a Browser but I get so far with the Deals I put everything it requires and the final part where it says save it just refuses to do anything it just keeps saying save
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