Prescription free - pharmacy selected wrong exemption code

Ms_Wheels

Hello

I am entitled to free prescriptions as I claim income related ESA. I physically cannot write and great difficult reading off paper and basically cannot complete the prescription myself. Therefore, the pharmacist always complete the back of the prescription for me.

A couple weeks ago I went to a different chemist than usual. They checked various details with me including reason for exemption and I informed them I was on ESA and said I think the exemption code is box H.   

I returned to the same chemist a week later and was served by a different pharmacist. When he gave me the medication he asked if I was on universal credit. I replied "no, I'm on ESA" and he said he would change this on their computer system and on the prescription he had just processed. I then expressed concern that I collected prescriptions last week and those prescriptions should be exempt due to ESA (box H).

He said as the scripts were electronic, he can go back and change the exemption on them. 
Does anyone know if this is true?

I am worried I might receive a fine (or 3 fines as it was 3 separate prescriptions) for the wrong exemption being used.

Do you think it's worth me contacting the NHS business service authority, who I think are the people who do random checks and issue fines - so I can explain what happened? 

Any advise would be very welcome,

thanks

marcia_

Ms_Wheels said:

Hello

I am entitled to free prescriptions as I claim income related ESA. I physically cannot write and great difficult reading off paper and basically cannot complete the prescription myself. Therefore, the pharmacist always complete the back of the prescription for me.

A couple weeks ago I went to a different chemist than usual. They checked various details with me including reason for exemption and I informed them I was on ESA and said I think the exemption code is box H.   

I returned to the same chemist a week later and was served by a different pharmacist. When he gave me the medication he asked if I was on universal credit. I replied "no, I'm on ESA" and he said he would change this on their computer system and on the prescription he had just processed. I then expressed concern that I collected prescriptions last week and those prescriptions should be exempt due to ESA (box H).

He said as the scripts were electronic, he can go back and change the exemption on them. 
Does anyone know if this is true?

I am worried I might receive a fine (or 3 fines as it was 3 separate prescriptions) for the wrong exemption being used.

Do you think it's worth me contacting the NHS business service authority, who I think are the people who do random checks and issue fines - so I can explain what happened? 

Any advise would be very welcome,

thanks

I wouldn't worry about it personally. Unless you 'accidentally' claimed a free prescription when you were required to pay i don't think they will be interested. 

Grumpy_chap

So long as you remain eligible for free prescriptions, I would not worry about an admin error.

Ms_Wheels

Thank you both, I'll try to forget about this and not worry. If I receive a fine, I can easily prove I'm eligible for free prescriptions. 

huckster

Income related ESA claims are coming to an end as part of migration  process to Universal Credit.

Have you claimed Universal Credit yet?

Have you received migration letter?

badmemory

Yes they can go back and change the box after the fact.  I filled a presciption for my son when he first stopped work & got a "free" box ticked   Realised later that he should have paid & went back & told them & paid, no problem at all.

peteuk

 If flagged then they will send you a letter, it will scare you at first as it will note you need to pay the prescription and the fee.  

Dispute it and prove your on ESA, is easy. However best practice is to sign them yourself and not let them sign for you.

Slightly different my wife has a prepaid exemption and it’s happened to her a few times where the pharmacist has ticked the wrong box.  

Ms_Wheels

Thank you everyone

Huskster - thank you for highlighting the fact IR ESA is ending. I'm aware, though your post might also prompt others. I did receive a migration letter and Help to Claim referred me to CAB as my situation is complicated (I will not go into details here as it will distract from the main topic of the thread). In summary, CAB has been liaising with DWP on my behalf to try to address the issues. We have an extension to 10th January and a complex case manager is phoning Monday/Tuesday. 

badmemory - thank you, it's helpful to know they can go back and amend.

peteuk - thank you for sharing your experience. Unfortunately I cannot read/write without accessibility software so I cannot complete the prescription myself, though your comment has made me reflect and I think  will ask pharmacist to fill prescription out in front of me so they can verbally confirm what they have ticked.