There have been 270 responses to the consultation on changes to prescription charges and exemptions.

The consultation on the National Health and Care Service (General) Scheme 2017 ended on Tuesday last week.

Under proposed reforms unveiled by the Department of Health and Social Care last month, state pensioners below the age of 75 will lose the right to free prescriptions, eye tests and dental treatment.

It’s a move that is claimed will save £1m-plus a year.

Others who will no longer be exempt from making a contribution to charges will be women who are pregnant or who have given birth in the past 12 months.

Patients with specific medical conditions such as epilepsy and diabetes will no longer be able to apply for an exemption.

Prescription charges are also going up from £3.85 to £5 per item.

The plans have come in for a lot of criticism.

There are 10,032 people aged 65 to 74 registered with a GP. A total of 217,780 prescriptions were issued to people in that age range between April last year.