Been reading with interest the items about Exemption of Payment for diabetes with prescription charges. I am type1, 50 years, and applied for exemption when the system first started. This I renewed every five years up until I reached 60. In all the years I have been getting prescriptions covered by an exemption certificate, and I get other items monthly for related and unrelated conditions, I was only once asked to show my certificate and that was at a hospital pharmacy. As I had been brought in after a bad asthma attack by 999, the last thing on my mind was a certificate.
It is quite easy to get the certificate as stated in the other replies, I sent the form and a sae., to my practice nurse and received 5 yearly reminders from the health authority.
It is incredible thar Doctors, Hospitals and Pharmacies all say different things, but basically we do need that little card, as a percentage of scripts are checked and that's when alarm bells ring, as some members of society do try to get free prescriptions.
Perhaps a box on the back of the script might help, but then there would have to be checks.
I am aware of this happening to people and after appeal have been successful, sadly others have'nt.
The post code lottery syndrome takes effect, some medics know the rules others don't, some diabetics are well looked after by the G.P. with regular reviews, some can get testing sticks for blood testing, and on and on. Sadly people come second best before cuts, and it is unlikely this will change in the near future, it will probably get worse.
Remember, if we can fight diabetes we can fight virtually anything. Life could be easier with just a little thought and consistency by the Government departments concerned.