NHS Prescription Refund

supermonkey

Hi there,

Recently had to pay for a prescription due to not having proof of exemption with me. I have now read that I cannot get a refund as I should've asked for form FP57 when paying and one cannot be issued later.

http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/healthcosts/pages/prescriptioncosts.aspx

This seems very unfair - I even said I didn't have the exemption, but the pharmacist did not even offer.

Any advice?

Toothsmith

Make sure you have it with you next time, and move on?

Indie_Kid

One time I didn't have exemption on me; but because I am entitled, still ticked the box. Why did you not do this? I got told that I won't have to bring it once they know my face.

ithinkyourcrazy

Did you use your local chemist?
I have a medical exemption card, I never get asked to show it, except once when some one new was working there and they looked it up on file for me.

supermonkey

They asked if I was exempt. I said I didn't have evidence with me and they didn't say anything else.

This is the first prescription I've had in years and I didn't read the notes first - didn't know I had to tick a box or ask for something

donquine

I've always been advised that if I don't have proof of exemption with me and the pharmacist doesn't know me, they can give me my prescription for free, but they have to tick a box saying evidence not seen, and my records get checked out at some point down the line. (Which is ok, because I do always have a valid PPC.)

Not sure why you weren't advised you could do that?

pattycake

I have a Medical Exemption Certificate and recently asked my daughter to pick up my prescription. This was from the pharmacy which hold my repeat prescription and therefore always supply my medication.

Anyway, they refused to let her have it as she did not have the proof of my exemption. They have it on their computer and my medication is for a condition which warrants an exemption. I was a bit ticked off as I then had to make a special trip to town myself to collect.

Just someone being a "jobsworth" but I suppose they are just covering their backs. However, my understanding was that the onus is upon the patient not the pharmacy if a fraudulent declaration has been made.

jenniewb

I wasn't aware that you are not able to claim back costs- though I did once get a prescription from A&E but was charged, funnily enough I didn't think to bring proof of exemption when the ambulance picked me up.... does seem unfair, at the time I was a full time student and it wasn't yet even my money I was spending! (it was a student loan) but there was not much I could do.

If it happened now I'd kick up a fuss to see if anything could be done at all and if not, write a letter of complaint to whomever I could (to get it off my chest mainly) but if it was a jobsworth then take it to the extreme! (jobsworths get my back up more then anything else at the moment!) and then move on, there is only so much you can do.

welshdent

to be fair 7.20 isnt horrendous :-S ... is it?

Indie_Kid

welshdent wrote: »

to be fair 7.20 isnt horrendous :-S ... is it?

It depends on what you buy with it. If I wasn't exempt, last summer (I had an allergic reaction) I would've just got my mum to buy me some piriton from the chemist. What I'm on now, I probably can't get otc - although might be able to get a slightly cheaper brand.

£7.20 is a lot if you're a student and haven't had loans come through yet.

welshdent

Buying cheaper over the counter is a different kettle of fish ... but I am guessing from the discussion that it wasnt an over the counter drug? Most pharmacists I know would have suggested the over the counter if it were cheaper in these circumstances