Renewal of NHS exemption certificate delay.

pmduk

tazwhoever wrote: »

My current 'Medical Exception' card runs out in March. How long before can I apply for renewal? The card that expires every 5 years.

Thanks

I'd look to do it a month before expiry, and order meds a week before expiry if not received, I need 12 items every couple of months and just wouldn't have that sort of spare cash.

dannie

Query about the FP92A :-

To the right of the "PATIENT DECLARATION", do the characters and digits refer to anything such as your GP surgery (as this would be the most likely thing that changes* to the previous two that I sent).

* The Business Services Authority are sending some FP92A forms to the GP surgery as they don't know why mine was not accepted.


Thanks.

Flugelhorn

The numbers on the right are the same for all FP92A forms at present the forms do change from time to time as different conditions are included / changed.

dannie

Okay, thanks Flugelhorn. So, if the surgery sent the correct form, the only other possibility is that they colour photocopied it and therefore not an original?

Cannot think of anything else. Concerned that the third attempt at renewal will fail.

Thanks

dannie

From what I understand, on the Business Services Authority website*, after completing a few details, you can check if you are medical exempt and if so the length of time remaining. Also, by obtaining a printout of it, it may be taken anywhere as proof.

Has anybody used this method? Good or bad experiences? Is the proof completely accurate and hence a valid document.

Thanks.


* Cannot get link to work.

pmduk

No, I've not used it, however, if you find that you are still exempt you'd just tick the box on the prescription and it would be checked at a later date - no need to use anything as proof. I've also found a page here might be useful, could your practice be using photocopies or horrors: blue ink?

If your link can't give you the expiry date, why not call them to ask if the exemption certificate can be backdated to today so that you can have a prescription dispensed? Make a note of the time, date and name of the person involved if they agree to this to avoid later issues.

dannie

pmduk - Thanks for your information. The link does state that I am still exempt. When my first FP92A form did not get accepted, my GP surgery informed me that I had been given an extra month by the Business Services Authority whilst the second FP92A would be being sorted out. I am wondering whether this has happened again regarding the third FP92A (not sent yet). Hope that's clear. Communication seems to be more or less lacking clarity regarding my case from the above departments.

pmduk

I hope you get this sorted, I've never heard of such a rigmarole (un)fortunately I'm 60 in 3-4 months so this will all be behind me thank goodness.

dannie

pmduk - Thanks very much. It did not seem right the other day when the GP receptionist said something like "What do you want me to do, pay for it myself?" This was after I had commented that it was "unsatisfactory" i.e. me paying prescription costs when it was not my error.

dannie

Sorry for the delay. My "ordeal" ended, I hope, towards the end of last week when I received my medical exemption card (backdated one month). It took two and a half months approximately beginning to end.

The first FP92A sent was not seen as an "official" form by the Business Services Authority (B.S.A), apparently the second never reached them whereas the third (this time posted special delivery by myself) was received and accepted.

It took three trips to the GP surgery, approx. six telephone calls to the surgery and a total of ten emails to both departments.

Still unclear why this happened? However, whilst completing the third form, the GP receptionist pointed out a "format" difference in the newly received ones sent to them by the B.S.A. compared to their own stock. I am wondering whether this could have been a factor?


Thanks for all the assistance received on this thread.