I really don't understand why the gps don't automatically print on your prescription that you are exempt from any charges as they are in full knowledge of your medical condition and this would surely eradicate the need to have an nhs business enforcement department......or would that be too simple for the nhs .?
I have had a penalty fine just land and to be honest I had my exemption form completed 7 years ago and it's been in my drawer since and I have only just checked because of the fine and realised its ran out..
Of course I will not pay and send a covering letter in, which is all the more difficult for me as I didn't have my glasses with me and ticked the wrong box anyway...lol...
It's easier for this money making arm to just send out these letters and then expect the genuine ones to prove they are entitled to free prescriptions as it is cost effective as they only have to send a letter and it also catches the trickers out who won't or are unable to pay,,,,,,win win for them..
I am all for the nhs but sometimes feel that the system has been abused by so many foreigners and the likes ...they have to do this stuff to cut the costs somehow,,,sadly we genuine cases get caught up in the cleanup...
I have today gone and got a form ready to fill in so I believe it's doing its job in one way, just think that there should be an exemption clause in for genuinely daft people like me who forget after never having used an exemption card for five years that I must check it more often and the chemists should ask for one...
it's easy to chase us as we are sitting ducks while 100s of thousands of pounds gets written off for the foreigners who come here just to get free treatment and don't stump up