Local shop charging for picking up medication

KleboldKlan

Our local shop has said that they will now be charging us for picking up our own medication? Is this legal? I changed mine to now be delivered from my surgery since finding out this. 

It just seems really wrong to charge people who need their medication to pick it up? What happens if they can’t afford to pick it up? Or they are an elderly person or a disabled person who doesn’t get much in benefits? Since the coronavirus people have lost their jobs and lost a lot of money coming in for bills and groceries. This just doesn’t sit right to me. Is there anything I can do to stop this happening? I fear a lot of people are going to stop picking up medication because of this because this shop isn’t cheap, the shop owner charged 2.99 for one tin of beans so I don’t hold out hope that it will be cheap! 

Any advice on what to do? This shouldn’t be happening. No one should be having to pay for their own medication! 

Martin_the_Unjust

Vote with your feet, pick it up from the surgery, a chemist or get it delivered etc etc.

The shop can charge whatever price they want for any service they provide.

MattMattMattUK

KleboldKlan said:

No one should be having to pay for their own medication! 

The vast majority of us have to pay for any medication we require, most people have to pay prescription charges. 

Aylesbury_Duck

Shop elsewhere.  Their shop, their service, their pricing and I doubt they're a not-for-profit business.  If it results in a net loss to profit, they'll probably change stance.

robatwork

Can someone explain how this works as I've never heard of it before?

You get a prescription from the docs and it's delivered to a local Spar or similar and they hold it for you?

bargainbetty

If the chemist is charging you to collect the medication, then that is definitely an issue as it should not charge beyond standard prescription charges. 

If this is a general store that has previously offered a collection service during the lockdown and is now charging for it, then that is their business model, as it will cost them in staff terms to do so. 

You could sign up for one of the delivery services - Pharmacy2U were brilliant for me - delivered by Royal Mail after the GP sent the prescription. Just not very useful for urgent stuff. 

GeordieGeorge

KleboldKlan said:

Any advice on what to do? This shouldn’t be happening. No one should be having to pay for their own medication! 

Most of us do pay for our own medication.

Why should the shop do it for free? What do you do for them for free in exchange; do you help to take the deliveries in, or maybe go round after closing and clean the floors?

pbartlett

i recommend the app pharmacy2u they post the medication to you foc

ElefantEd

MattMattMattUK said:

KleboldKlan said:

No one should be having to pay for their own medication! 

The vast majority of us have to pay for any medication we require, most people have to pay prescription charges. 

Another great reason to live in Scotland - no prescription charges here!

GeordieGeorge

ElefantEd said:

MattMattMattUK said:

KleboldKlan said:

No one should be having to pay for their own medication! 

The vast majority of us have to pay for any medication we require, most people have to pay prescription charges. 

Another great reason to live in Scotland - no prescription charges here!

It’s not as though they don’t still have to be paid for by someone.

KeithP

GeordieGeorge said:

ElefantEd said:

MattMattMattUK said:

KleboldKlan said:

No one should be having to pay for their own medication! 

The vast majority of us have to pay for any medication we require, most people have to pay prescription charges. 

Another great reason to live in Scotland - no prescription charges here!

It’s not as though they don’t still have to be paid for by someone.

Probably by the people south of the border.