Prescription charges - is this right

Dynamic_Panda

I have just been to pick up a prescription for some compression socks which I have to have because of being treated for circulation issues in my legs.........

I have always paid one prescription charge regardless of how many pairs have been requested and the prescription clearly states there is only one item to pay for............

Tonight when I went to pick it up as it had come in I was told that I would have to pay 4 prescription charges one for each sock...............I was told that whoever charged me for previous prescriptions as one item was wrong..........the fact that all bar the last one came from the same pharmacy and they have always charged me for one item made me annoyed..........

So my question is if a prescription states it is only one item on it and they try and charge for more then do they have the right to do that...........

DP

PS it actually worked out cheaper to pay for them over the counter than pay 4 charges..............

glentoran99

I dont believe it is right no, would they charge you per pill for an antibiotic?

McKneff

Its not right...... go back and argue

globalds

The NHS prescription charge for England is set at £8.40 per item.

http://psnc.org.uk/dispensing-supply/receiving-a-prescription/patient-charges/

[Deleted User]

Dynamic_Panda wrote: »

PS it actually worked out cheaper to pay for them over the counter than pay 4 charges..............

Agree with both the above posts, but if you do need regular prescriptions for other things, it might be cheaper for you to get a PrePayment certificate (£29.10 for 3 x months)

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

Mojisola

This says the charge is per item -
http://psnc.org.uk/dispensing-supply/receiving-a-prescription/patient-charges/
Elastic hosiery
Multiple charges apply where more than one piece of elastic compression hosiery (anklet, legging, knee cap, below knee, above knee or thigh stocking) are ordered.
Prescription charges for elastic hosiery are calculated per garment (e.g 2 pairs of stockings = 4 garments) but professional fees are calculated per prescription item (e.g 2 pairs of stockings = 1 prescription item). Therefore two pairs of stockings would incur four patient charges and the pharmacy contractor would receive one professional fee.

Dynamic_Panda

Sleazy wrote: »

Agree with both the above posts, but if you do need regular prescriptions for other things, it might be cheaper for you to get a PrePayment certificate (£29.10 for 3 x months)

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

Thank you but as a rule I get about one prescription about once every three months this is a bit out of the ordinary.............

DP

Dynamic_Panda

Mojisola wrote: »

This says the charge is per item -
http://psnc.org.uk/dispensing-supply/receiving-a-prescription/patient-charges/
Elastic hosiery
Multiple charges apply where more than one piece of elastic compression hosiery (anklet, legging, knee cap, below knee, above knee or thigh stocking) are ordered.
Prescription charges for elastic hosiery are calculated per garment (e.g 2 pairs of stockings = 4 garments) but professional fees are calculated per prescription item (e.g 2 pairs of stockings = 1 prescription item). Therefore two pairs of stockings would incur four patient charges and the pharmacy contractor would receive one professional fee.

So although the instruction on the prescription stated I was to be charged for one item they can do this.............I would not have objected to paying one charge for each pair but a charge for each one is outrageous............and I have never been charged for them individual items............the same pharmacy dispensed three pairs for one charge two years ago..........what angered me most of all was the rudeness of the pharmacist when I raised my point to her.........The end result was instead of paying £33.60 in prescription charges I paid £27 for the two pairs over the counter................

DP

theoretica

Dynamic_Panda wrote: »

So although the instruction on the prescription stated I was to be charged for one item they can do this.............

Sounds like a kind try on the part of your doctor, but not something they have power over.

Glad you realised or the pharmacy told you that just buying them was cheaper.

Dynamic_Panda

theoretica wrote: »

Sounds like a kind try on the part of your doctor, but not something they have power over.

Glad you realised or the pharmacy told you that just buying them was cheaper.

You are probably right..............but I did ask if it was cheaper to buy them over the counter...........they did not volunteer the information...........

DP

no.1swimmum

I wear a similar knee high compression sock that I get from the orthotics dept at the hospital and up until I started to get my prescriptions free, I was always charged per sock so paid double prescription charge for a pair, they last 6 months so only 2 pairs a year.