Prescription exemption cards

[trophywench]

They had a purge in the 1980's and always wanted to see them, that's the only time I've ever been asked before or since in the 38 years I was Type 1 before I was 60.

Lasted approx. 6 months.

 

[KookyCat]

I was asked the first time I had a prescription when discharged from hospital and nobody had told me I was entitled to an exemption, so I said I paid which of course I always had and there were 11 items on the prescription (I was rattling at that point), they didn't mention exemption cards or the refund form, nor did they tell me I could have bought some of the items OTC for much less than the prescription charge. I wasn't allowed to claim that back either. I only found out about the exemption card when I went for my second prescription and the pharmacy didn't ask for cash (Boots), and the nice lady explained it to me. That was a relief because I'd already started to panic about how I'd afford it all. I also wasn't told I didn't have to pay for my eye test, they could do with a standard pack of information about NHS services given to everyone diagnosed.

 

[Northerner]

Hurrah! My card has finally arrived! 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Diabetic hits out at NHS prescription fine

A diabetic is calling on others to fight a £132 fine being served up by the NHS over repeat prescriptions.

Mark Fowler of Bentinck Terrace Warsop, has regularly picked up free insulin for his type-one diabetes for more than 30 years.

But he was stunned when he was told that despite ticking the medical exemption box on his latest prescription, the NHS said they had no record of him because they say he had failed to renew his exemption certificate.

The 42-year-old, who was diagnosed with type-one diabetes at the age of 12 in 1984, insists he was never told about the renewal, something he has never had to do before.

http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/diabetic-hits-out-at-nhs-prescription-fine-1-7136296

I do think it is ridiculous that the procedure isn't to write and inform the person that they need the exemption certificate on the first occasion, and then maybe apply fines for subsequent claims if one hasn't been obtained At least he managed to get it rejected, which rather suggests they were wrong to impose it on anyone.

 

[MacG3]

Northy, you are assuming that there is logic in the NHS, oh you poor misguided fool (jokingly!)

Basically the NHSBSA manages both perscriptions and the exemption card processes. Now some polyester trouser wearing jobsworth, probably with a media studies degree from a 'new' university, has had a wonderful idea that by matching the NHS ID (or rather finding non matches) from both systems they can detect fraud.

There is no logic in this, and the ten percent checking figure is set because that is all they can process without taking on more staff. What is really annoying is that in their other services they pull out diabetes medication for reporting. So they know who 'should' be exempt even if they don't have a card, by what is in the perscription.

They just don't have the gumption to do a three table database join, rather than a two table join.

Hopefully, by spotting this early, we at diabetes support.co.uk have saved some of our regulars the pain and stress of having to deal with NHSBSA.

 

[DeusXM]

My card came yesterday too!

I was amused(ish) by the covering note explaining that if the holder dies, the card should be returned to avoid a reminder letter being sent out.

Given the overwhelming majority of people in Britain will likely end up having some sort of doctor or hospital involvement at their point of expiry, you'd have thought the one organisation based in Britain that'd be best equipped to know whether you're dead or alive would have been the NHS. But apparently not...

 

[Northerner]

...I was amused(ish) by the covering note explaining that if the holder dies, the card should be returned to avoid a reminder letter being sent out.

What reminder letter would that be then? 🙄 Glad I've got mine - I have been going through my rubbish trying to find old insulin cartridges with a bit left in them, now I can finally get a new supply! 😉

 

[Pumper_Sue]

My card came yesterday too!

I was amused(ish) by the covering note explaining that if the holder dies, the card should be returned to avoid a reminder letter being sent out.

Given the overwhelming majority of people in Britain will likely end up having some sort of doctor or hospital involvement at their point of expiry, you'd have thought the one organisation based in Britain that'd be best equipped to know whether you're dead or alive would have been the NHS. But apparently not...

Dream on in that respect, a letter arrived for a hospital apt for my dad. It was addressed to Dear deceased. 😱 Dad died last year so at least they had his status correct if nothing else.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

We took our newborn daughter to casualty with dislocated elbow. They checked the address and asked uncertainly if she was my (deceased) grandmother. No, we said, she just has the same name. 🙄

Please put brain in gear before engaging mouth.

 

[Annette]

We took our newborn daughter to casualty with dislocated elbow. They checked the address and asked uncertainly if she was my (deceased) grandmother. No, we said, she just has the same name. 🙄

Please put brain in gear before engaging mouth.

When I had to take my OH to the hospital a few years ago, we gave them his full name and birthdate so they could bring up his NHS record. They asked if he'd recently moved down here. No, we said, we'd been living here for several years. Oh, we've got you here as living in Liverpool. Lightbulb moment - Just check you have the right record? Yes, initial and birthdate match. Check name please? Oh, it says Mark. (Hubby is Mike.) You have his twin's record open in front of you. Oh, really...?

 

[Northerner]

Oh dear! Hurry up with that cure so I don't have to deal with any of these people, please! 😱

 

[Copepod]

My card came yesterday too!

I was amused(ish) by the covering note explaining that if the holder dies, the card should be returned to avoid a reminder letter being sent out.

Given the overwhelming majority of people in Britain will likely end up having some sort of doctor or hospital involvement at their point of expiry, you'd have thought the one organisation based in Britain that'd be best equipped to know whether you're dead or alive would have been the NHS. But apparently not...

To be fair, data matching does happen, but not always within days or weeks. So, asking relatives to return a deceased person's card could mean that a reminder isn't sent out during the particularly painful period soon after death.

The NHS doesn't have overall responsible to register deaths - Registry Offices have that responsibility, along with births and marriages, informed by relatives.

 

[Highlander]

Prescriptions are free in Scotland, so no exemption card required!

 

[Northerner]

Prescriptions are free in Scotland, so no exemption card required!

I don't know why they aren't free here either - apparently 90% of people don't have to pay anyway, and they could do away with a lot of the bureaucracy, I'm sure! 🙄

 

[Vanster]

This is just happening to me. Explained in thread “prescription fines” only I had one fine got a new exemption certificate paid the £8.80. Annoyed but thought it’s all over but now I’ve been sent another fine from an earlier script. Help has anyone resolved this or am I going to keep getting fines for the last 16 years

 

[Northerner]

This is just happening to me. Explained in thread “prescription fines” only I had one fine got a new exemption certificate paid the £8.80. Annoyed but thought it’s all over but now I’ve been sent another fine from an earlier script. Help has anyone resolved this or am I going to keep getting fines for the last 16 years

Hi Vanster, I would get in contact with the Diabetes UK Helpline when they open tomorrow, hopefully they will be able to advise you:

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/how_we_help/helpline

As far as I'm aware you shouldn't need to be paying for any of them