Reading through this board, it seems to me they are NOT doing random checks, but they are deliberately targeting diabetics. There's no other way the number of people here who have received a penalty can be explained. My guess is that it's much harder to check the exemption status of people who are/were unemployed, but if you see "insulin" on the script it's easy. I think Diabetes UK also need to ask in parliament about which scripts exactly were checked and how " random" the process was. Seems to me there's a possible offence under the Disability Discrimination Act here.
It's not only diabetics who are being targeted , it's everyone who signs to state that have a valid medical exemption certificate.
It is cross checked on the database with the name and address of the claimant, and the records of the MEDEX database., not what is actually being prescribed . The persons employed are not medically trained and will not recognise what the prescription contains, therefore cannot identify a condition that could be exempt.
The reason why it looks as if diabetics have been targeted is because this is a diabetes forum, but the same concerns are being raised, and reports coming in of fines in forums connected with other conditions too.
The database of those holding exemption certificates is actually quite a bit smaller than the one for those who are exempt for other means , so even with random checking, it will flag up a lot more frequently than say, those claiming exemption via a HC2 ( low income) form .
Its not disability discrimination either, as the same checks are being carried out on those who claim free prescriptions for reasons other than having a medical exemption certificate.
Btw, I don't work for them, so please put down the pitchforks and flaming torches
Signy