![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/brits-choosing-between-prescriptions-and-eating-as-cost-of-living-crisis-bites/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/close-up-person-holding-two-725286822.jpg&description=BRITS are having to pick between eating and paying for vital medicines as the cost of living in the UK continues to rise, medics have warned. In some cases, people are returning unused medicines to pharmacies in a bid to get refunds so they can scrape by. Some pharmacists have started to cover patients prescription charges for them.Credit: Getty Mike Hewitson, a pharmacist from Somerset, told The Sun that some of his patients are having to "choose between treatment or eating." "And it's not just patients on benefits," he explained. The pharmacist has also seen youngsters people try and return medicines. "Younger people are having to pay higher rents are also struggling to make ends meet," he explained. Meanwhile, some pharmacists have started to cover patients prescription charges for them. Ade Williams, a pharmacist from Bristol said: "It breaks the heart of many pharmacists knowing and seeing people not able to pay for their prescriptions, "Many of us sometimes pay out of our pockets for them without even letting them knowing," he added. Medicines people are choosing not to take to save some cash include antibiotics, painkillers, asthma inhalers, blood pressure medication and antidepressants. "All of which during the cost of living crisis and concerns about energy cost are definitely not the ones to skint on," Ade added. The Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMP), which represents more than 3,000 pharmacies, says no patients should be denied prescription medicines because they cannot afford them. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of AIMP said "it's heart breaking" to see patients "struggling so much" they decide not to take over the counter medicine like paracetamol. "But it's unacceptable that some are having to say no to prescription drugs which are prescribed my doctors to treat serious illnesses," she told The Sun. "People should still be able to take prescription medicines even if they cannot afford them - something must be done to help," she){kind=link}
BRITS are having to pick between eating and paying for vital medicines as the cost of living in the UK continues to rise, medics have warned.
In some cases, people are returning unused medicines to pharmacies in a bid to get refunds so they can scrape by.
Mike Hewitson, a pharmacist from Somerset, told The Sun that some of his patients are having to “choose between treatment or eating.”
“And it’s not just patients on benefits,” he explained.
The pharmacist has also seen youngsters people try and return medicines.