NHS Prescription Query

Gandalf644

Last week my GP (over the phone) prescribed a medication for a new condition and added it to my repeat prescription.

I went to the chemist just now to collect both the new medication and my usual meds.

I am exempt charges on my usual meds but I need to pay for this new item on the script which I am happy to do. However, the electronic signing pad wouldn’t accept both exemption and paying for an item.

The pharmacist got involved and said I could either pay for all items or have exemption for them all – not a mix and match!

She wouldn’t let me just take the exempt meds either as she said I have to take them all at the same time and would have to pay for them all, else the pharmacy would lose out?

So, I left the lot!

Has anyone else come up against this problem and how did you get around it?

Many thanks.

TELLIT01

I've had a quick look on the NHS site and there's nothing I can see to suggest a medical exemption certificate doesn't cover all items.  I think all you can go is call your surgery on Tuesday. 

Pharmacies do seem desperate to make money any way they can now.  I have an appointment at my surgery early next week, with the appointment only having been made on Friday afternoon (but that's another story).  I have to take a urine sample so called to the pharmacist to get one.  They charged a pound for it and have never charged before.  The pharmacy has just been taken over by a national chain which may have made a difference.

Gandalf644

TELLIT01 said:

I've had a quick look on the NHS site and there's nothing I can see to suggest a medical exemption certificate doesn't cover all items.  I think all you can go is call your surgery on Tuesday. 

Pharmacies do seem desperate to make money any way they can now.  I have an appointment at my surgery early next week, with the appointment only having been made on Friday afternoon (but that's another story).  I have to take a urine sample so called to the pharmacist to get one.  They charged a pound for it and have never charged before.  The pharmacy has just been taken over by a national chain which may have made a difference.

Thanks,

My exemption is a War Pension exemption which only covers meds for my accepted war pensionable injuries. Hence the need to pay for the one for a new different condition;

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-youre-eligible-help/war-pension-scheme-and-armed-forces-compensation-scheme