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Type 1: Prescription fine

Hi, I am type2 and have a medical exemption certificate. Last week I received a fine. I rang up and was told that the NHS was doing random checks to eliminate fraud and they could not find my registration. I had moved and never thought to let them know so they could not match my prescription to my cert. they do not check what your prescription was for so they do not know that you are diabetic and in my case the prescription did not include my metformin. You do need a certificate, a plastic card, otherwise the computer cannot know you are entitled to free prescriptions. They have only just started a round of checks and some people might never be spotted. It's probably your drs who were originally at fault but you need to go and get it sorted before it happens again.
 
Really? I haven't seen anyone on here making that type of argument.
"Link please! "
 
What a shame Bevan didn't threaten to resign over the government refusing hypothecation [*] of National Insurance. If he had done, maybe we could expect a pension that a person could survive on, after paying NI all our working lives.

OK possibly off topic now.

[* hypothecation means putting our NI payments into a sealed national pension fund instead of treating our NI payments as a government piggy bank / slush fund]
 
My son has been type one diabetic since he was 18 - 15 years ago. He was told that prescriptions were free, never asked or indeed reminded to fill in anything in order for this to remain free of charge, we went through everything together with a diabetic advisor. He recently was fined £96.00. He spoke to both is doctor and his pharmacist; neither of which had ever heard of a type one diabetic having to renew exemption certificates and told him to definitely not pay, both were shocked and disgusted. It is indeed marvellous that our tax money is "apparently" being looked after - However this appears to be little more than a scam. Targeting people that - by the nature of the prescription itself - are clearly type one diabetic, smacks of someone having suddenly realised that due to a clear lack of information, people have inadvertently fell outside of legislation and have become easy money. He was then fined a late payment charge whilst trying to fight the issue and threatened with court. Brilliant for the blood sugars - unnecessary stress - This needs to hit the national press in order that innocent victims can fight back!!
 
Did you have too pay the fine then or was it wavered ????
 
molivers73 said:
Why would I eat humble pie if I have never been informed?
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I must agree with you molivers73, this is the first I have ever heard about these certificates, as I have been unemployed and been on benefits that gave me free prescriptions for many years.

So when I was diagnosed as T2 I just carried on getting free prescriptions, and nobody even the gp has told me, get a certificate. I just sign to say I am the patient and having ticked the income based Esa box and then the 3 little boxes for name, d.o.b. and the n.i.n.o.. My pharmacist has not said anything about these things.

Why has the nhs bods started doing this, they can check on the circumstances themselves, we give them our n.i. so what more do they need?? ttfn from Karen
 
tordy58 said:
Did you have too pay the fine then or was it wavered ????
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The fine was waived. They said they would cancel it and they changed the address on my certificate. They did say I might receive another different fine if it had already been sent but as the checks are random I've heard nothing.
Like I said, how is a computer supposed to know you are diabetic unless you are registered. My problem was that I hadn't changed the address.
The nhs prescription service cannot check from NI or any other way.
My pharmacy registered my cert on their computer so I do not have to show it.
 
I was diagnosed Type 2 on 12th December last year. I already have an exemption certificate because I have a thyroid issue too. It is renewed every five years. I always present the card with my prescription even at my preferred local pharmacy and they write the number on the back of it. If you
do not have an exemption card I strongly suggest you get one. Your GP is the first point of contact.
 
I've had an exemption certificate since they first came out and have never paid for a prescription in my life.

I had a letter, in December 2014, stating that I had claimed that I was exempt but they had no record. I phoned the number at the top of the letter and was told that they had no record of me holding an exemption certificate BUT were only claiming back prescription charges since September 2014. If they have no record why not claim back 30 years of charges??? They advised me to get my GP to confirm my eligibility and my new certificate arrived a couple of days ago.

But, it is strange that they claim to have NO RECORD of me on their system as I have been diabetic for 35 years and they have always sent me reminders about eye screening and other procedures
 
With due respect too, I am only telling of my own experience and that it is, that they have automatically sent my renewed card to me and whenever I have moved house I have informed them of my new address. When I collect my script I show my card & they write the my number on the top of their copy, but if I don't have the card with me they don't refuse me my script
 
Anyone else have one of these cards that automatically get sent out every 5 years?

Makes me wonder why they wouldn't just make them never expire...
 
It's only a reminder that is sent out every 5 years. That's from the official website. If anyone has had a cert automatically renewed, it was an error and should not be accepted as the norm.
 

The reason for the certificate is to prove that you are diabetic and not just someone one claiming to be that is trying to get other drugs for free.
The medical exemption card gives you free prescriptions for anything. Viagra, Cialis, Codeine, you name it.

These can be falsely claimed and then sold online. In fact even people with a valid certificate do this and some have been caught.
It is illegal.

The aim of the card is to cut costs for the NHS. Drugs for diabetes is a major cost for the NHS, so don't blame them for trying to cut out people fraudulently claiming to be diabetic to get free prescriptions.

Mind you, instead of fining the person with the prescription, the chemist should be fined for not checking the card. It is really their duty.
You will find nowadays most chemists will need to see a certificate and write down the number to protect themselves.
I hear the NHS has stopped paying chemists that do not do so.
Yet there is still no proper place on the form for a chemist to write the number down?

Any diabetic without a Certificate should get one or risk a fine/having to pay.
I agree, NHS staff do not seem to tell people about it.
Have the impression some GP Surgeries seem to not like people knowing what you can rightfully claim.
The hassle I had to get testing strips, and to get off gliclazide and onto Farxiga...... :-(
 
The reason they expire is that Diabetes 2 can expire/be cured.
If you manage to keep your diabetes under 10 without pills/drugs you will lose the right to free meds.

In the future even Diabetes 1 caught early might be curable.
Ergo the certificates need to be renewed.
 

Bolding mine.
Really I have never seen this bit of legislation can you give me a link @Kes
 
rubold said:
Actually I believe that if the exemption box was ticked and then signed by the patient it could come under criminal law as fraud.
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Yes, Yes, Yes - of course if making a false declaration - WE ARE ASSUMING that no such situation exists!!!!!
 
BaliRob said:
Yes, Yes, Yes - of course if making a false declaration - WE ARE ASSUMING that no such situation exists!!!!!
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If you don't have a valid exemption certificate, then if you tick the box and sign the prescription, then you are making a fraudulent declaration. That situation was the start of this thread. I don't agree with the heavy handed action taken, but I doubt it would be wise to call their bluff and invite a court summons.
 
Hi, I've just been fined as well didn't know you had to have a card. Paid the fine apparently you don't get it back. Got my card now but I do think need to be informed when things change. Have wrote to MP so they are looking into it.
 
When I was first put on metformin after the diet and exercise control didn't work the GP said 'ah well at least you get free prescriptions now'! Can't fault him and at least he informed me and sorted me out with the paperwork straight away. Never a problem since. I stick to the same small pharmacy and they have only seen my card once, it is all logged on their system and they are obviously aware of what prescriptions I recieve as I don't go any where else.
 
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