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Type 1: Prescription fine

Well I got an exemption card, now where did I put it?, and will take it to the chemist for my next re-fill and see what the pharmacist says, maybe even scan it into his system if he can, so ttfn from Karen
 
I think it depends on ur drs. I was diagnosed in 1981 when I was 15 and was told and given the forms to fill out and my drs sign and send the firm off for me. I get notified every 5 yrs as a reminder to renew and have to do it all over again mine is not sent or renewed automatically
 
I have found on other diabetes support groups on fb that there has been an increase on fines for diabetics who do not have the exemption card. Reason for this is money. Too many people who are not exempt tick the box so they don't pay. However I have read recently somewhere that they will refund fines for the diabetics who are being fined
 
Hello to all, this problem of exemption seems to still be jumping up and catching many diabetics out, so this is another keep your eye on thing. I am on benefits and duly tick that box on the back of my script, but I have got one of these certificates to have if I am challenged, and will register it with the chemist and have it on his file, what else can a person do? More form filling and bureaucracy for the daily life of good folk, what ever next we may ask? well ttfn from Karen.
 
I've been a type 1 diabetic since 99 and never had a card either just kept ticking the box. Then I read in the news that they were going to start fining people for not having them so I went and got one. I may have also got a letter but can't be sure. If you weren't contacted or informed by your GP then it is pretty out of order to be getting a fine for something you've been doing this long without anyone questioning it!
 
i was diagnosed this April, and when i went to see my DN for firdt time , i signed the form and just DN sent it of for me, If i was you @molivers73 just make an appointment to see your GP and get one completed for the future, but maybe you can appeal against the bill you have got
 
Just found this thread. Like a lot of you I've noticed an increase in people saying they've been fined for not having a valid exemption certificate
. I was diagnosed in 1975 and didn't realise until this year that you actually needed one, i just used to tick the "medical exempt" part of my repeat prescriptions. After reading about people being fined i went and got a form to fill in from my GP's who then sent it off for me and about a week later an NHS plastic card came through the post. I wanted to be a rebel and not get one but i caved in the end lol.
 
Hello TyTy and Ladybirdy75 and all other stressed out with bureaucracy diabetics.
Well took my card to the chemist, and he took note on his system of the number, then when I was duly filling in and ticking the boxes, the assistant came along and said you have an exemption certificate, and ticked that box,and crossed the one in the benefits box off, so does that mean I am going to get a fine for all my other medications?
Well all us form filled card aquirred diabetics now lets hope there is no more stuff for a while, ttfn from Karen.
 
Scouser58, i doubt you'll hear anything about the other meds. I take a load of heart and asthma meds too and have always ticked the exempt box.

If they come after you we'll all be behind you lol
 
Hello Ladybirdy75, thank you for your reply and thank you for being there in support, trust me I will kick and scream, so ttfn from Karen.
 
I'm getting really angry how diabetics are getting treated like criminals by the nhs,

The online service won't let me order insulin until the system deems i should need some. If i run out early, or it goes bad, presumably i just can't have any?? I'd happily pay for my own insulin if i could just buy it in Boots, but i can't. It's not my fault the nhs makes me jump through hoops just to avoid dying.

My needles have been changed to a very sub-standard cheaper brand. I usually only change my needles when the vial runs out, using less than 10% of the needles i should be costing the nhs. Now, i'm going to change them every time, so i cost the nhs a fortune out of spite.

I have an exemption card, but if i didn't and got a fine i would refuse to pay it. I'd go to court if i had too. And if the court ordered me to pay, i still wouldn't pay. I couldn't care less about the money, it's the principle. Do they think people want to have diabetes?? Do they think we want to test 6 or 7 times a day? Inject 5 or 6 times a day? They're crazy if they think that. I'm glad these fines got overturned, but why on earth should they have had to been in the first place? I hope the nhs actively refunded everybody who paid up.
 
Hello happier than you, and everybody else. Now I know the nhs has gone loopy and is now into stupid season.... Changing a T1's needles for a cheaper one, is stupid and as you point out will cast more in the long run, which the money misers do not think about, they just see the buy invoices and how much they can 'save' on each order.....speechless.....

As a T2 my mini needles were changed from an 8 mm which I could not feel and went to the next layer down easily...to a 4 mm one which I have to press down a bit harder on, and so it feels tender under the 'stab it sites' on my thighs.... again they did not think about peoples injection sites being on different 'thickness's.

The fines were unbelievable in the first instance how many years have people gone without these cert's and so many not knowing about the need for them,,, I was one of them,,,,the principle is worth standing up and fighting for, as we keep getting told this condition is a killer,,,,,, and we have to keep the pharmaceutical industry in the black with the nhs buying loads of medications from them,,,,,,,,I understand your frustration at the insulin not lasting and the problems of getting a replacement supply,,,,, they wont understand until they have to jump through those hoops,,,or they fall flat on their faces when there is a major problem and they have to act quickly,,,,,,if that is at all possible???

If I was in this situation the pharmacist would be my first port of call,,,as they might have a recall situation, or they can talk to the doctors/suppliers and get it sorted out,,,,the one I go to is very helpful and even rang me out my testing strips on a recall and get them back to him,,,,

Lets hope all the fines have been repaid as you say it is not fair, nor were people warned about this in advance,,, surprises of this type are not wanted. Maybe a post on the forum would get the full story finalised and everybody being refunded,and the whole thing ended,,,

happier than you,,,, please remember the computer system that runs the re-orders,,,,,,,is programmed by humans,,,,,,which as we know are prone to stupidity in great amounts,,,,,,,can I ask does you insulin come in individual bottles (you are given so many) or are they supplies in a box of a set amount? ,,,,my victoza comes in boxes of 3 even though I use 2 on a 28 day script, so I have the 3 box, and then every now and then have to not reorder it as I have a box full to work through,,,,,top shelf in fridge door,,,,,,if I needed insulin and ran out I would talk with the pharmacist and get them to help out,,,,,the doctors and dn nurse's seem to listen to them,,,,after all they most likely know more about the drugs and stuff than the doctors,,,,,
so happier it is bed time, so ttfn from Karen.
 
I have been a Diabetic Type 1 for 50 years next year and have only ever had one card, and never renewed it. Oops.
But being a resident in Wakes I assume you don't need one? No one pays for prescriptions, no one has to sign the back of a prescription or otherwise, as long as your registered address and Voters roll has you living in Wales that is enough, no checks are made. I do have to sign for my Morpheine as I have a very high dose as well, but the other 18 drugs I don't sign for.
All this debate, regardless of NHS response has made me wonder, should I get an exemption card, or even, would one be available as know one pays for prescriptions in Wales, except of course Visitors of any description, even if at College or Uni.
I cannot get a straight answer from Diabetes Clinic at Hospital, GP or Pharmacy. How would I apply for a exemption certificate, say in case I visit England and need urgent supplies for any reason? As no residents in Wales pay, or have to sign the back of prescription, only there for English visitors I presume? How do I get this card/letter if know one medical can advise.? What a system, must need one for rest of UK surely?
 
@Johndotcom as you live in Wales you do not need an exemption card as you rightly say prescriptions are free for all thus no cards are in existence.
Obviously if you come over the border you either pay or apply in advance for an exemption cert.
 
CarbsRok said:
@Johndotcom as you live in Wales you do not need an exemption card as you rightly say prescriptions are free for all thus no cards are in existence.
Obviously if you come over the border you either pay or apply in advance for an exemption cert.
Click to expand...

Does that work in reverse too? (ie if people travel from England to Wales to get their prescription)
 
ConradJ said:
Does that work in reverse too? (ie if people travel from England to Wales to get their prescription)
Click to expand...
No idea, but would hazard a guess you have to have a residence in Wales to qualify.
 
If you visit Wales and either need a prescription or bring one with you to Wales you will be charged as in England.
If you have an English Exemption Certificate, I'm not currently sure if altered, you use to have to pay the charge and then claim it back in England, as two different health authorities and Governments (Welsh Assembly). To save any problems if a Diabetic, ensure you have enough of what you need with you, to prevent all the hassle.
 

So much for the "United Kingdom" then.
 
ConradJ said:
So much for the "United Kingdom" then.
Click to expand...
Thanks for clarifying things for us.
Another thing please remember your passport for going over the bridge in to lovely Wales
 
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