SIR – More and more medicines are appearing on the shelves of our chemists and supermarkets.

This could be because many people can’t afford the cost of prescriptions, which are increasing to £7.40 per item from April 1, and are self-medicating.

The Department of Health, ought to be concerned, for putting off a visit to a GP could have devastating consequences if a nagging pain turned out to be the symptom of a serious disease.

How come England is the only part of the UK still charging for prescriptions?

D Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford