D
Deleted member 83869
Guest
That's okay! I am a bit of a dimwit lol! xI know you were I was just very worried about identity theft in this day and age so was very concerned for you.
That's okay! I am a bit of a dimwit lol! xI know you were I was just very worried about identity theft in this day and age so was very concerned for you.
It's actually not like disabled badge holders using a card when not entitled. That is fraud plain and simple, this is an administrative issue. T1's are ALL entitled to free prescriptions and there has been no attempt to defraud the NHS here.
It just seems to me to be that it is a very random process as well. Who is checking this and how? Myself, Jaylee, Molivers73 etc have never really had exemption cards yet only one has been fined. Has anyone here ever heard of another diabetic being fined for this? There must be many more that don't have exemptions that also haven't been fined so if it's going to be done they should do it properly or it begins to look exactly what it is..a half ***** discriminatory old fashioned approach that either needs reviewing or scrapping.
That's okay! I am a bit of a dimwit lol! x
Hi all,
I have just received one in the post, for £124.15...needless to say I am not that happy about it. I was told by a lady on the phone a similar story to others here, you are entitled to free prescriptions but only if you have the medical exemption certificate. I have never been asked for one, and I have been diabetic since 1986 and with the NHS since 1992. The GP has never told me about one and as others have said the pharmacist has always just said "tick that box".
I was also told that the GP can back date it by 30 days, which considering my charge is for September is not that helpful as the letter is dated 24th November. I have never bucked the system knowingly, and would have preferred to receive a "warning" or "first offence" to resolve the issue, and be given the chance to back date it as required by the GP.
Agree that I should have read the prescription small print, but when it hasn't changed in so many years and there was sort of an implied waiver with no notice by GP, Pharmacist or the Business Services Authority it seems a bit rough.
I am going to write to my MP and the press I think. I will pay £1.00 now and depending on what happens will pay the rest in instalments, I'll think of it like a donation to a good cause anyway!! After all, in the grand scheme of things, £124.15 isn't a lot for the wonderful care I get at King's College Hospital and have had at Queen Mary's. Hopefully they will not back date any more, otherwise I will take it further!
Hi Liz,I can't believe this charge!! Am I missing something? Why are you being charged £124.15?!!
You will need to yes, they are only valid for 5 years apparently. Which considering it a chronic illness would seem completely ridiculous that you need to do that anyway, it is a waste of time for us, the GPs and the Business Services Authority's time.I'm wondering if I need to act! I was given an exemption certificate in 1985 when diagnosed but I don't know where it is now. Maybe in a drawer. I've never been required to sign my prescription or produce the certificate or apply for a new one. I think this task could easily be taken out of the hands of T1's, as GPs have a clear record, (don't they?), of their T1 patients. It's not as if T1's don't have enough to do to look after their condition, and surely it would be more efficient for GPs to vouch for them?
This is actually quite concerning now. I will try and obtain one as soon as possible. But what angers me about this is no pharmacist has ever asked for one, I have never had one in over 31 years and it seems that I now have to needlessly waste my own time as well as my GP's to perform this ridiculous box ticking exercise. As mentioned in an earlier post the NHS is riddled with waste such as this because the bureaucracy can't get itself sorted. Type 1's need insulin yet some will get fined if they don't have a card saying that they need it. Kafka would be proud.
I hardly ever get asked for one, when you stick to the same pharmacies they get to know you and realise you already have an exemption certificate, the only time anyone will ask is when I'm using a pharmacy that I've never used before.
In light of recent events I think it's wise that everyone chases up their exemption certificates to save the aggravation months and years down the road.
As a T1 has their critical illness for life it is ridiculous to make us have to apply every 5 years... Hey ho!!! Bl**dy govts wasting more funding on needless systems!!
I'm writing to my Local Councilors and MP tomorrow.