Type 1: Prescription fine

[Sancho panza]

Elaine
My Dsn told me about the certificate on our first meeting she gave me the form and told me to send it off
It certainly seems to me that yours has given you the wrong information.

 

[Pipp]

Elaine
My Dsn told me about the certificate on our first meeting she gave me the form and told me to send it off
It certainly seems to me that yours has given you the wrong information.

Unless the system is in a transition phase. Some paper prescriptions and exemption certificates, some electronic. It would not be the first time a government agency messed up computerised systems. For example, the benefits system and passport services.

 

[elaine77]

She obviously has but I genuinely think she must have no idea that the NHS are trying to fine people for it to make money or she would never have said not to bother.

I can only assume she thought she was saving time and money by not filling in forms and waiting for cards when the pharmacy know I'm diabetic by the fact my repeat prescriptions are for insulin, test strips, etc etc.

I will bring it up with her at my review and I'm sure she will be horrified about it when she finds out what they are doing. She is about 50 years old and so probably is just unaware of new developments because the NHS clearly don't communicate throughout their company successfully, we see this everyday with the postcode lottery of NHS care.

 

[Pipp]

She obviously has but I genuinely think she must have no idea that the NHS are trying to fine people for it to make money or she would never have said not to bother.

I can only assume she thought she was saving time and money by not filling in forms and waiting for cards when the pharmacy know I'm diabetic by the fact my repeat prescriptions are for insulin, test strips, etc etc.

I will bring it up with her at my review and I'm sure she will be horrified about it when she finds out what they are doing. She is about 50 years old and so probably is just unaware of new developments because the NHS clearly don't communicate throughout their company successfully, we see this everyday with the postcode lottery of NHS care.

What has her age got to do with it? You say she is a specialist diabetes nurse. I am much older than her, not a trained HCP but of the generation that believes in taking personal responsibility for my health and wellbeing. That is why I know about medical exemption. I don't wait for someone else to give me information regarding my health.

 

[elaine77]

If you are not a HCP then the only response I have for you is that you SHOULD be leaving the responsibility of your healthcare to the professionals (as far as trusting what they say goes) if you have an incurable degenerative disease like I do. If u don't then you are not really in a position to pass comment as you don't need medical/medicinal assistance in order to live.

I am not arguing about this any longer. I responsibly asked the question and was given the wrong answer. I trusted my diabetic nurse and what she said (and the pharmacy and what they said) and will discuss it with her at my review.
The End.

 

[Brunneria]

I am not arguing about this any longer.
The End.

Thank you!

 

[elaine77]

Brunneria, it takes more than one person to argue and nobody is forcing you to read the comments. Less of the sarcasm please.

 

[Brunneria]

Brunneria, it takes more than one person to argue. Less of the sarcasm please.

No sarcasm, I promise you.
I was thanking you for finally deciding to stop scoring points.
Was I wrong to think you had?

At the same time, I was feeling relief and hopeful anticipation that this thread could go back to its original purpose - highlighting the exemption cert situation for people not yet aware of it.

 

[elaine77]

Point scoring? I don't think so.

And to suggest my posts were not highlighting the exemption situation is, frankly, preposterous.

 

[Pipp]

If you are not a HCP then the only response I have for you is that you SHOULD be leaving the responsibility of your healthcare to the professionals.

I am not arguing about this any longer. I asked the question and was given the wrong answer. I trusted my diabetic nurse and what she said and will discuss it with her at my review. The End.

That is ok, @elaine77.
I decided not to engage further when you suggested that because your nurse was 50 she was not capable of having up to date info. When discussions denigrate to insulting stereotypical comments I make my exit.

My final words on your points discussed:
I sort of left the responsibility for my healthcare to the professionals for many years. Trusting their advice on healthy eating and exercise. The healthy eating advice was the standard carbs with every meal / healthy eating plate info. I followed this advice diligently, for years, and my blood glucose levels rose steadily until I developed diabetes. It was only through research, and applying the findings to my own situation that I have gained BG control, and become healthier than I have been for years, although I do have several life limiting health conditions.

I do hope that you can become as well informed as possible, and see that your body is yours, you are unique, your health is precious, and you can work in partnership with HCPs to get the best possible health you can. I would urge anyone not to relinquish their health and well being to someone else, particularly someone, who they believe "is probably unaware of new developments". Your DSN has, according to you mislead you over the prescription charge exemption so why would you trust her with everything else?

I am sorry that you have appeared to have been very distressed by the topic in this thread. I have tried to support your argument that it is unfair to fine people for mistakenly not having the necessary prescription exemption documents, but fail to understand why you were so distressed if you haven't actually been penalised for not having the exemption documentation, and you can easily resolve this.

I wish you well, and hope that you get the healthcare you need and deserve.

Goodbye

 

[Brunneria]

Good night.

See you in the morning?

 

[elaine77]

I must comment just to clarify that I did not say my DSN has mislead me I actually said that I believe she had no idea the NHS were fining people and most likely thought she was being helpful. She made a mistake but it is dangerous ground to suggest not trusting/taking the advice of our HCPs, even though many don't. It is not something this forum endorses or allows either (usually).

I also wish to clarify that the comment about her age comes from my experience on this forum where many, many people have commented that the older the HCP, the more out of date their knowledge appears to be regarding many things, particularly diabetes, and so I was considering other reasons for her incorrect information as I believe there was no malice or intent in it.

 

[Brunneria]

Or tonight.

 

[Pipp]

Or tonight.

You were right first time @Brunneria.
It is Sunday morning. As I am off to sleep now I will bid you "Goodnight" though.

 

[CarbsRok]

I must comment just to clarify that I did not say my DSN has mislead me I actually said that I believe she had no idea the NHS were fining people and most likely thought she was being helpful. She made a mistake but it is dangerous ground to suggest not trusting/taking the advice of our HCPs, even though many don't. It is not something this forum endorses or allows either (usually).

I also wish to clarify that the comment about her age comes from my experience on this forum where many, many people have commented that the older the HCP, the more out of date their knowledge appears to be regarding many things, particularly diabetes, and so I was considering other reasons for her incorrect information as I believe there was no malice or intent in it.

So on that reasoning would you say that anyone aged 50 and over knows nothing about their diabetes even if they have been on insulin for 50 years and more. Or that they know nothing about getting the correct paper work?

Now that an over 50 has told you that you need a certificate, perhaps best apply for one and save yourself some expensive grief. The certificates were in place when I was 16 or 17 so it's not a new thing

 

[Robinredbreast]

So on that reasoning would you say that anyone aged 50 and over knows nothing about their diabetes even if they have been on insulin for 50 years and more. Or that they know nothing about getting the correct paper work?

Now that an over 50 has told you that you need a certificate, perhaps best apply for one and save yourself some expensive grief. The certificates were in place when I was 16 or 17 so it's not a new thing

I'm 56 and I worked in a pharmacy before my present job ( I didn't take to the owners and just had to leave after 11 months) I worked part-time, but not trained then, that would of happened after a year/18 months, but obviously I saw a lot of procedures and behind scenes within a pharmacy. So very capable at 53 years then

RRB

 

[elaine77]

Carbsrok can u not read or something?? I was talking about HCPs that were over 50 NOT diabetes sufferers that were over 50!

You are deliberately being antagonistic and attempting to take this thread off course again. No I will not listen to someone over 50 who isn't a HCP thank you very much; in fact, they don't even have my medical condition and don't even take diabetic medication anymore!

Therefore I will speak to my DSN at my review regarding the situation and if she still says I don't need to get the exemption then I will get her to put it in writing and sign it.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Please can these comments now stop and return to a normal civilised conversation??

I thought this thread was interesting and put a newsletter article on iy for our GP practice.

Its now turning vile..

 

[Pipp]

When I was first prescribed metformin, I told the pharmacy this was new to me and they told me that as it was for diabetes I was exempt from paying and got me to sign. I didn't have my specs with me because I had filled out the form already as if I was going to pay for the prescription. I asked them if I needed to do anything else and they said I didn't. The next time I got my prescription I read the form and asked about the certificate and was told I was already exempt and didn't need one. I wasn't sure about this so I asked at the doctors and they gave me a form. I am cross that the pharmacy misled me in the beginning. I don't believe it was my fault because I queried it and when I had the chance to read what I was signing I queried it again and then got the form and the exemption card, so I sympathise with elaine77, I can quite understand her situation.

As Pipp said, my card also is still valid even though I no longer take any diabetes drugs. The whole system is a farce.

The system is a complete farce @zand.
I am going to upset quite a few people here, but have to say those of us with diabetes medication are in a better position over free medication than those with some other chronic lifelong medical needs. Until recently people needing cancer drugs were not exempt. I also have several other lifelong medical conditions that do not qualify for free prescriptions, so before I had medication for diabetes I bought NHS pre-payment certificates on an annual basis. If I hadn't I would have needed a second mortgage to pay for my prescriptions. I have heard people ask "what is so special about diabetics that they should get free prescription meds when other conditions don't?" Not a view I subscribe to, but do have some sympathy for others who need a lot of medication and have to pay.

 

[Heathenlass]

As a former HCP, I feel that I need to comment on some postings in this thread :

First of all, no HCP is infallible. We all make mistakes because we are human. Also, no matter what our personal beliefs are, there is a " party line " that has to be followed . And that party line seems to change like the wind ? Sometimes the advice given is outdated compared with other countries, and sometimes it's because we haven't been given the memo Incidentally, I must have missed the memo that said all HCP's over the age of 45 are now exempt from Continuing Education

Those memos are the bane of most Hp's lives, as often the information hidden in the great drift do not filter down to the troops on the ground. For example, these MEDEX forms. DSN's are as their title suggests, Diabetic SPECIALIST nurses. They are far more likely to be informed of beurocratic changes in regard to their speciality than a DN who is usually a practice nurse who runs the diabetic clinic at the local Health Centre as well as other clinics. The advice they give is only as good as the advice and information that they are given. You are more likely to be told about obtaining an exemption certificate from a DSN than a DN or GP because the latter are looking and concentrating on a much broader picture.

It used to be that prescriptions were rarely checked or randomly checked by the receiving prescription payment department, thus allowing many fraudulent claims to go through. This has tightened up considerably and is computer checked. Your number is cross checked with the database of who has claimed and received a MEDEX, and if there is no match, out goes the letter . The computer doesn't recognise that a person is diabetic because of insulin, needles, test strips etc, it goes by numbers. It doesn't recognise that a person SHOULD be exempt for whatever reason, so therefore doesn't send out an alternative letter with a gentle reminder that you should get a certificate. Sadly.

It would seem that many HCP's have not been informed about ensuring that those patients who are exempt obtain a certificate, and many more still are unfamiliar with the exemption process, wrongly assuming lol along that the exemption would be picked up on by the pricing authority. It wasn't, and now, never is unless you apply for a valid certificate and thus have the all important cross match on the database.

Yes, it's been handled badly, and sadly that is not unusual.

Signy