Surprise charge from hospital after trip to A&E

Azari

LisaB85 wrote: »

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.

Absolutely.

And it gives them the option to refuse the medication if they do not feel it is worth the cost.

The fault here was not whether or not you were charged (or would have been if you hadn't been exempt). It is that you were not informed that the particular medication you were offered was chargeable and were therefore not able to make an informed decision as to whether of not you wanted to accept it.

AsknAnswer2

Originally Posted by milliemonster
Exactly!, anyone who reside in the UK knows there is a prescription charge for medication!

I live in Scotland. The last time I checked, it was still a part of the UK. I've never been charged for any medication received whilst an in-patient or whilst in A&E, at any point prior to April of 2011, nor at any point following it, so no - I wouldn't know that there was a charge for prescriptions in the circumstances the OP describes, though I would be aware that prior to April 2011 there would have been a charge for a GP writing a prescription.

MeanParent

Big fuss about nothing.

NHS prescriptions are chargeable to some in the UK, depending on personal circumstances.

It is the law and ignorance of the law is no defence. The hospital has no option. Even if they don't advertise the fact, they are still obliged to collect the payment and you are still obliged to pay for it.

Zedicus

MeanParent wrote: »

Big fuss about nothing.

Your opinion, maybe, not others.

It is the law and ignorance of the law is no defence.

That aphorism applies to CRIMINAL law. This is a civil matter.

The hospital has no option.

Except that as many have witnessed here, that is not the case.

Even if they don't advertise the fact, they are still obliged to collect the payment

Except that as many have witnessed here, that is not the case.

and you are still obliged to pay for it.

Have you even read the thread? OP is EXEMPT from charges so she is NOT obliged to pay.

So much fail in a single post!

biscit

LisaB85 wrote: »

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.

My point was more that if you don't normally pay charges you might get out of it that way without having to argue over the rights and wrongs about how clear the signs and instructions are.

Humphrey10

Ambulance charge? I went to A&E twice a year ago, I was not charged for the ambulance either time, in what circumstances is the ambulance charge made?
I also wasn't charged for the painkillers they gave me at A&E, although I had told them I had type 1 diabetes, so the doctor might have known I was exempt from the prescription charge.

System

Humphrey10 wrote: »

Ambulance charge? I went to A&E twice a year ago, I was not charged for the ambulance either time, in what circumstances is the ambulance charge made?
I also wasn't charged for the painkillers they gave me at A&E, although I had told them I had type 1 diabetes, so the doctor might have known I was exempt from the prescription charge.

I think some ambulances have started to charge after road traffic accidents when its your fault

Torry_Quine

If you need an ambulance after a road accident then you are charged for it. This is not new as I had this from the 80's. Letter was sent to insurers who paid it.

cte1111

barbiedoll wrote: »

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:

Some time ago, I was knocked off my motorbike by a van. Passers by called an ambulance. A week later I received an invoice for the ambulance. So it does happen and not necessarily just to 'timewasters'.

Re the prescription charge for drugs given out in A&E, I wasn't aware of this and have visited A&E quite a few times over the past year (my Dad has had a stroke and had various problems since). I also spent a couple of hours in a different A&E last week when I had a fall and there were no signs about charging as far as I could see.

LittleVoice

LisaB85 wrote: »

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.

But in your post above (#66) you quoted "Medication administered at . . . an NHS walk-in centre." would be free.

Administered doesn't mean given to take away. What is meant is what is done at the time by way of treatment by a medical practitioner.