Surprise charge from hospital after trip to A&E

Torry_Quine

Even before prescriptions became free here I was never charged for medication given to me in A&E to be taken away and am shocked that some places charge. What happens if you don't have money, do they refuse to give you the medicine? Even when a prescription was taken to thehospital pharmacy to be filled there was no charge.

LisaB85

BillTrac wrote: »

Well my local walk in centre has signs everywhere informing people that there is a £7.40 charge per item.

And there is a machine to take your money, although it only takes cash:mad:

The signs aren't that clear in my hospital (just had it confirmed by an old school friend who works there) although A&E is different to a walk in place where they would give you a paper prescription for you to collect the pills.

However my local hospital aren't great at positioning signs in an easy to see place, I remember going a year or so ago with a friend and was about to get him a drink when I noticed a sign about 7ft up on the wall between 2 windows stating patients should not eat or drink while waiting to be seen....it is quite a large long waiting room.

LisaB85

biscit wrote: »

Do you normally pay prescription charges?

Yes, last one I was on conts jsa so paid as I knew I wasn't exempt. I knew income based means free dental care but didn't know anything else was free.

It said per item on the letter but I remember getting 2 lots of medication in the past but only paying one fee which was about £6.50 at the time.

LisaB85

Just found this though.....no wonder people get confused!!

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx

The following items are supplied free of charge:
Medication administered at a hospital or an NHS walk-in centre.
Prescribed contraceptives.
Medication personally administered by a GP.

LisaB85

heretolearn wrote: »

In an A&E two years ago I wasn't charged for the drugs I was directly handed by the staff. When I had to return and got a paper prescription from them, I had to pay as usual. So I also would assume that if the medicine were just handed to me it was free as part of hospital treatment.

I think it varies from area to area and is quite a recent change as did some digging which includes news items from different hospitals introducing the charge but it is contracted by the NHS website which says that if you are given medication at a walk in centre it is free.

vyle

Next time I'm in A+E I'll be very careful. Last couple of times (once for a broken ankle, once for a broken elbow) they gave me the big painkillers that look like giant red smarties, which were free, but they did say if I needed more they could write a prescription, but never said anything about charging for those.

It seems somehwat mean spirited, but I guess, as someone else said, people cottoned on and started abusing the system.

Oldernotwiser

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Even before prescriptions became free here I was never charged for medication given to me in A&E to be taken away and am shocked that some places charge. What happens if you don't have money, do they refuse to give you the medicine? Even when a prescription was taken to thehospital pharmacy to be filled there was no charge.

But you're in Scotland!

Torry_Quine

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But you're in Scotland!

Which is why I said even before prescriptions were free here.

barbiedoll

Nobody who attends A&E and who is given i.v. antibiotics or painkillers as part of their treatment whilst in the hospital, will be charged. It seems that some hospitals are now charging for any drugs that are to be taken away, this is usually things such as oral antibiotics, painkillers, inhalers, laxatives and so on. Previously these were just given out to patients before they left, they would only have needed a prescription for a drug that wasn't available as a "TTO" (take-away medicines)

It's about time that these were charged for, at my hospital we were giving away vast quantities of drugs, as other posters said, the system was being abused.

It's the same with the ambulance charges, although I thought that was only for time-wasters, e.g. women in early labour, vomiting drunks etc etc, things that aren't an emergency. I personally, have never, ever met anyone who was charged for calling an ambulance, although I know a few that should have been! :mad:

LisaB85

barbiedoll wrote: »

Nobody who attends A&E and who is given i.v. antibiotics or painkillers as part of their treatment whilst in the hospital, will be charged. It seems that some hospitals are now charging for any drugs that are to be taken away, this is usually things such as oral antibiotics, painkillers, inhalers, laxatives and so on. Previously these were just given out to patients before they left, they would only have needed a prescription for a drug that wasn't available as a "TTO" (take-away medicines)

It's about time that these were charged for, at my hospital we were giving away vast quantities of drugs, as other posters said, the system was being abused.

It's the same with the ambulance charges, although I thought that was only for time-wasters, e.g. women in early labour, vomiting drunks etc etc, things that aren't an emergency. I personally, have never, ever met anyone who was charged for calling an ambulance, although I know a few that should have been! :mad:

I understand where you're coming from and I have nothing against them charging for take away pills but have many have agreed there are hospitals that don't charge and it is quite a recent development.

Most people don't visit A&E regularly and may think a doctor offering pain relief to take home then flouncing off means they will be unsure they will be charged as there is no paper prescription to sign etc so will get a shock when they get a letter demanding money.

A sign on a wall is not sufficient and while nurses and doctors are not sales people they have a duty of care and part of that should include ensuring patients understand what they are being told and understand if they will be charged. It doesn't take long to say 'Would you like some stronger pain relief? we can post the bill for the prescription to you if you usually pay for your medication'

This also gives the patient the opportunity to mention they are exempt from charges which in turn will save on admin since many are exempt for various reasons.