Demand to renew Medical Exemption Certificate

[NeedleStone]

I recently got a letter demanding I renew my Medical Exemption Certificate, with the usual threat of having to pay for insulin. The only way to do so seems to be to request one from the my GP's (which probably means a visit) then collect it, fill it in, return it for counter signature, and finally collect. That's between 2 and 4 needless visits to the doctor to avoid possible fines.

What am I, and other people entitled to free prescriptions but whose certificates are running out, supposed to do?

 

[Robin]

Ah! That’s annoying, I see you’re nearly at the magic age when you get them free anyway, but not quite there!
I had a quick google of the NHS site in case there were any temporary provisions for extending them during the Covid crisis, but there weren’t!
I can only suggest you contact your Gp surgery and ask them how they’re handling them. (easier said than done with our surgery telephone lines at the moment!) You can’t be the only one with one about to expire, and if you are, they’d better get their thinking caps on and work round it. There may be some scope for passing documents out via email.

 

[NeedleStone]

Ah! That’s annoying, I see you’re nearly at the magic age when you get them free anyway, but not quite there!
I had a quick google of the NHS site in case there were any temporary provisions for extending them during the Covid crisis, but there weren’t!
I can only suggest you contact your Gp surgery and ask them how they’re handling them. (easier said than done with our surgery telephone lines at the moment!) You can’t be the only one with one about to expire, and if you are, they’d better get their thinking caps on and work round it. There may be some scope for passing documents out via email.

Thanks for that, but it needs to be raised as a matter of some National urgency, especially by Diabetes UK. It is very much a Governmental responsibility; not that of individual's or small parts of the NHS

 

[stephknits]

Hi needlestone and welcome. What annoying timing! Just to say, Robin and the majority of us, are just like you, just people who use this forum hosted by DUK. If people work for them it comes up on their profile thing. You might want to get in touch with DUK themselves regarding this issue - they may have looked into it

 

[Northerner]

@Josh DUK - do DUK have any information on this matter?

 

[Bruce Stephens]

That's between 2 and 4 needless visits to the doctor to avoid possible fines.

Should be doable by post. When I did the last one I collected a form, filled it in, and returned it (so the GP could do whatever's needed) and then I got the card a few days later (by mail). So two trips, but I don't see why those couldn't have been done by post instead, in principle.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

So two trips, but I don't see why those couldn't have been done by post instead, in principle.

Obviously, given that Type 1 diabetes is still incurable (well, maybe with rare transplant-related exceptions) they could give exemption certificates with a longer expiry date (or none at all). (Or, even better, just not charge for prescriptions at all at least for a while.)

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I recently got a letter demanding I renew my Medical Exemption Certificate, with the usual threat of having to pay for insulin. The only way to do so seems to be to request one from the my GP's (which probably means a visit) then collect it, fill it in, return it for counter signature, and finally collect. That's between 2 and 4 needless visits to the doctor to avoid possible fines.

What am I, and other people entitled to free prescriptions but whose certificates are running out, supposed to do?

Use the Econsult available at most surgeries can be found on surgery website and request the form is filled in signed and sent off for you. No fuss no bother. Problem solved.

 

[Grannylorraine]

I recently got a letter demanding I renew my Medical Exemption Certificate, with the usual threat of having to pay for insulin. The only way to do so seems to be to request one from the my GP's (which probably means a visit) then collect it, fill it in, return it for counter signature, and finally collect. That's between 2 and 4 needless visits to the doctor to avoid possible fines.

What am I, and other people entitled to free prescriptions but whose certificates are running out, supposed to do?

Whilst I agree it is bad timing, it should be sorted with a minimum of fuss. My parents moved home during this current crisis and have managed to register with a new GP. Give your surgery a call, ask them to put the form in the post to you, if you are not able to go out to post it back or take it back, see if there are any local groups who help out in your area that will take it back. That is how my parents managed to register with a new doctor and it was easy and smooth.

 

[Josh DUK]

@Josh DUK - do DUK have any information on this matter?

I will speak to the information team.

 

[Josh DUK]

I recently got a letter demanding I renew my Medical Exemption Certificate, with the usual threat of having to pay for insulin. The only way to do so seems to be to request one from the my GP's (which probably means a visit) then collect it, fill it in, return it for counter signature, and finally collect. That's between 2 and 4 needless visits to the doctor to avoid possible fines.

What am I, and other people entitled to free prescriptions but whose certificates are running out, supposed to do?

I spoke with our information team and they said they looked at various websites to see if there was any information about changes in practices due to the coronavirus and did not see anything.

They suggested:

• Try calling or even better emailing GP surgery and asking what the process is for renewing medical exemption certificates. Hopefully they will have devised a process to deal with this without multiple visits, and/or
• Use the contact details from the NHSBSA website - Medical exemption certificates - https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/exemption-certificates/medical-exemption-certificates - contact details - https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/contact-nhs-help-health-costs to call or email. They may have a process for automatically extending existing certificates or some such.

 

[Northerner]

In any case, I very much doubt they would fine anyone whose certificate runs out during this period. If we were like the rest of the UK then we wouldn't need them

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I spoke with our information team and they said they looked at various websites to see if there was any information about changes in practices due to the coronavirus and did not see anything.

They suggested:

• Try calling or even better emailing GP surgery and asking what the process is for renewing medical exemption certificates. Hopefully they will have devised a process to deal with this without multiple visits, and/or
• Use the contact details from the NHSBSA website - Medical exemption certificates - https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/exemption-certificates/medical-exemption-certificates - contact details - https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/contact-nhs-help-health-costs to call or email. They may have a process for automatically extending existing certificates or some such.

If people bothered to have a look at their own GP's website, Econsult quite clearly states to use it so forms/sick notes etc. can be filled in. So I really can not see what the problem is.

 

[grovesy]

My Surgery's does not have Econsult!

 

[Robin]

Ours doesn’t either, in fact you can’t even email the surgery.

 

[MarkGeordie]

I would call NHS Business Service Aithority direct and see what their guidance would be.

 

[grovesy]

Ours doesn’t either, in fact you can’t even email the surgery.

I did leave a comment on the contact us address a couple of weeks ago, the auto message said they only viewed once a day. That was fine as I was just thank them for a special request for a prescription being dealt with quickly.

 

[trophywench]

I've never heard of e consult either - think it's just your surgery Sue, or possibly your CCG?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

It's used country wide as far as I know https://econsult.net/primary-care/how-it-works/

The info can be found on my GP practice website and not on the system online section that opens up for apts and prescriptions.
Needless to say even if OP's surgery doesn't have the econsult a simple phone call will solve the problem.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I can’t remember exactly what happened last time I renewed mine, but I am 99% sure I did it all by post (I think I had a form/link sent to me to complete rather like the driving license rigmarole).

I don‘t remember having to make any appointments to get it sorted.

Hope you find an easy way to get yours renewed @NeedleStone 🙂