Help, I'm in a pickle!

Indie_Kid

My GP, at least, does ask if I pay before prescribing certain things that I can buy over the counter.

heartbreak_star

I have both asthma and an underactive thyroid.

From what I can gather, it's the medication that makes the prescription free, not the condition - asthma medications get used for a lot of things other than asthma, chest infections for example.

I could be totally wrong but that's how I interpreted it.

HBS x

Horseunderwater

Not neccessarily - I have Myasthenia Gravis which is a named illness for free scripts. Also have medicated diabetes & get an income related benefit, so I can choose which I sign up for on my meds.

maggy50

I have an underactive thyroid over 20 years and it was only in the early years that I was asked to show exemption certificate that was sent to me in the form of a credit card and I am sure it had a long date but must have expired now.

If you are on thyroxine you probably will not be asked to prove exemption I have not had to for at least 15 years

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

leveller2911 wrote: »

People get exemption certificates for numerous ailments such as under active thyroid and diabetes but Asthmatics are Not exempt. There are 5.4 million Asthmatics in the UK compared to 2.9 million diabetics so they must have spun a coin to decide who is worthy of free prescriptions.

People die every day from Asthma, let alone the working hours lost due to Asthma attacks but we can't get exemptions from prescription charges which is nothing short of a disgrace.

Hey - it is not peoples choice whether they have a thyroid issue or not. I am guessing you aren't aware of the thyroid and what it can do - So let me give you a brief insight

It ISNT just about "putting weight on" - The thyroid is one of the largest endocrine glands and controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the body is to other hormones.

If you thyroid isn't working correctly - Whether it be under active or over active it messes with your body in a way that sometimes you cant function.

Oh and having a thyroid that doesn't work correctly can ALSO kill you - in extreme cases of hypothyroidism you can fall into a myexidema coma which can be fatal.

I'm not going to go through the complete symptoms of hypothyroidism - but let me ask you this: I am in receipt of free NHS prescriptions - I too take levothyroxine (meds for under active thyroid) Why the hell should I pay for my prescriptions for medication that I need on a daily basis to survive (Remember - Myoxedma coma's are fatal)

Oh and before you comment - you might want to consider two things

1, I had no choice of whether or not I have my medication. I also had no option whether I have thyroid problems. I had my thyroid removed in 2008 due to a tumour which went undiagnosed for FIVE, yes FIVE years even though I repeatedly went to the doctors. By the time they actually did anything about it, it was too late to save my thyroid, the tumour had wrapped itself around it. Legally - I could sue the NHS. I could probably play on it too and get compo for the stress it caused and I would probably get a pay out much greater than the cost of my medication. Did I sue the NHS? No. Would I? Well I did consider it, but in the end I decided it would be pointless taking away funds from the NHS when they need them. The care I received pre and post operation was amazing and to remove funds that support that care would be wrong.

2, The second thing you should consider is this:
Cancer patients ALSO have to pay for certain medications.

161,823 people died of cancer in 2011 in the UK
1,167 people in the UK died of asthma attacks the same year

As someone who has asthma as a child, and had a tumour - Believe me when I say this - I would rather have asthma than cancer

(Sorry OP - I digressed. Call them up on 0845 6018076 - They will re-issue you a card. You would have initially got your card from the doctors id guess - at least, that's where I got mine)

Indie_Kid

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel wrote: »

Oh and having a thyroid that doesn't work correctly can ALSO kill you - in extreme cases of hypothyroidism you can fall into a myexidema coma which can be fatal.

I'm not going to go through the complete symptoms of hypothyroidism - but let me ask you this: I am in receipt of free NHS prescriptions - I too take levothyroxine (meds for under active thyroid) Why the hell should I pay for my prescriptions for medication that I need on a daily basis to survive (Remember - Myoxedma coma's are fatal)

Oh and before you comment - you might want to consider two things

1, I had no choice of whether or not I have my medication. I also had no option whether I have thyroid problems. I had my thyroid removed in 2008 due to a tumour which went undiagnosed for FIVE, yes FIVE years even though I repeatedly went to the doctors. By the time they actually did anything about it, it was too late to save my thyroid, the tumour had wrapped itself around it. Legally - I could sue the NHS. I could probably play on it too and get compo for the stress it caused and I would probably get a pay out much greater than the cost of my medication. Did I sue the NHS? No. Would I? Well I did consider it, but in the end I decided it would be pointless taking away funds from the NHS when they need them. The care I received pre and post operation was amazing and to remove funds that support that care would be wrong.

Can, I just point out it's the same for asthma - asthma can and does kill. Many of us are on at least two medications per day to ensure we can actually breathe. We also have no choice about whether we take our medication. Unless of course we want to end up in hospital.

2, The second thing you should consider is this:
Cancer patients ALSO have to pay for certain medications.

161,823 people died of cancer in 2011 in the UK
1,167 people in the UK died of asthma attacks the same year

Cancer patients don't pay for their medication. They can get free prescriptions too. That's even if they've survived cancer.

As someone who has asthma as a child, and had a tumour - Believe me when I say this - I would rather have asthma than cancer

You can't compare the two. They are two different medical conditions.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Can, I just point out it's the same for asthma - asthma can and does kill. Many of us are on at least two medications per day to ensure we can actually breathe. We also have no choice about whether we take our medication. Unless of course we want to end up in hospital.

Cancer patients don't pay for their medication. They can get free prescriptions too. That's even if they've survived cancer.

You can't compare the two. They are two different medical conditions.

I never said asthma doesn't kill. The initial post was that its a "disgrace" that asthma suffers have to pay for their meds, and people on thyroixine don't. As I mentioned - I assumed the person wasn't aware that thyroid problems can also kill. Many people don't know what the thyroid is, or what it does. Most only hear about over weight people with "thyroid issues" - I had no idea what the thyroid did until a few years ago.


Not every single asthma sufferer needs 2 meds per day and will end up in hospital if they don't take it. (ok, they would if they were having an attack)


Cancer patients - I remember reading that there are certain medications that patients aren't entitled to on the NHS and if they want them its chargeable (It may have changed now - was a while ago I was reading this mind!)


And yes ok I realise that I shouldn't compare the two - my point was more that the initial person compared asthma to thyroid problems which is again, 2 separate issues but I probably didn't word it right

GirlFromMars_2

Wow guys, it's not a competition and this isn't discussion time.

Yes, the current system is unfair, but that's because the list of exempt conditions hasn't been updated since the 1960s.

The conditions that were exempted then were exempted for good reasons, and those reasons are still good today.

Of course things have changed drastically in the past decades, and more conditions should have been added to the list as prescription charges rose, and medical treatment changed, but they haven't gotten around to it as yet.

If you think they should take another look at the exempt conditions feel free to sign the petition and do more reading here: http://www.prescriptionchargescoalition.org.uk/

Personally I believe all long term conditions should be exempt, but ultimately at the moment there is a low income exemption for those on low incomes; and a relatively cost effective pre-pay scheme for those who don't qualify for an exemption.

I also hope that those with asthma are recycling their inhalers through the recycling schemes at their pharmacy, as inhalers account for a huge portion of the NHS carbon footprint.

melbury

Indie_Kid wrote: »

But this forum is to help get people what they're entitled to. Not for you to post rants about how unfair the system is. That's what Discussion Time is for.

Yes it is very strange, I have wondered about this and who decided.

I get free prescriptions because I have an underactive thyroid, but my OH suffers from glaucoma and has to use special eye drops every day and will have to forever, but he was not entitled to free prescriptions (is now because he is over 60).

Indie_Kid

I think it was decided some 50 odd years ago who should get prescriptions. ABout time it was changed. Or at least looked into.