Nhs prescription penalty charge

dinofabio

Hi

I have purchased NHS prescription prepayment certificates for years. I buy them every 3 months.

This year between March and April there was a gap and I forgot to renew so for a few weeks I wasn't covered when I thought I was. I'm a fool I know !! During that period I collected about 5 different precriptions on different dates (a few of my prescriptions are on a need-only basis and not regular medication).

Last month I received a penalty notice which I fully accepted was my fault and paid. No excuses. Prescription cost + £44 penalty charge.

However, today I've received another penalty notice for another precription I collected during the same period when I wasn't covered. Prescription cost + £44 penalty charge again.

Looking at the NHSBSA website it states:

"If you are sent a Penalty Charge Notice you will be asked to pay the original NHS prescription or dental treatment charges, and an additional penalty charge. The penalty charge is five times the original amount owed, up to a maximum of £100"

Of course I accept I need to pay the original precription costs but by sending me out individual notices with a penalty charge per notice doesn't seem right? Surely, I should just receive 1 penalty charge for the one period I wasn't covered even if it's the max at £100, not multiple penalties per prescription of £44 which could potentially far exceed the stated max of £100?

Does anyone know the rules? Have they made a mistake?



..and before anyone says it - I'm now yearly on D/D

[Deleted User]

Looks like they are doing a penalty charge for each prescription, not sure you can do anything about that.
If it were me I would speak to them and check it out.

calcotti

I think they are entitled to impose a charge for each occasion on which you mistakenly failed to pay. However the legislation only gives them the power to impose a charge, it does not require them to do so. If you ring them and admit to all the occasions when this happened you may be able to persuade them to limit the total penalty to £100 but if they insist on a series of separate penalties I think you will have to pay.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/2794/introduction/made

pmduk

You committed an offence each time you inaccurately signed the back of the prescription, albeit in error. It might be considered reasonable to penalise you for each occasion, although your argument is certainly worth trying.

TELLIT01

No harm in asking and you might be fortunate. On the other hand it's a bit like saying you should only be able to receive one speeding ticket on a single journey.