Official MoneySavingExpert.com Prescriptions Discussion Thread

[Deleted User]

Not mentioned in the article is that epileptics who need regular medication are entitled to a free prescription certificate, which works on non-epilepsy drugs too (so pays for all your prescriptions )

[Deleted User]

malc_b wrote: »

And why is it that medicines are only 1 month when the birth pill is 3 months? :mad:

You can negotiate it with your doctor. I get my Tegretol in 2-month batches.

moneysaving_pharmacist

Shelleybelly wrote: »

I wasted a year paying for prescriptions after I was diagnosed with an under active thyroid as no-one told me I was entitled to a medical exemption.

So do check if you have a long standing illness.

I'm very surprised at that. I can understand a patient with diabetes or epilepsy slipping through, as some of the drugs used for diabetes and epilepsy can be used to treat other conditions.

For the record, you are entitled to a medical exemption if you have:
- a permanent fistula (e.g. a colostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing
- hypoadreanalism where substitution therapy is required
- diabetes insipidus
- diabetes mellitus, unless treatment is by diet alone
- hypoparathyroidism
- myasthenia gravis
- hypothyroidism (an under active thyroid)
- epilepsy requiring continuous anticonvulsant therapy
- a continuing physical disability which means you cannot go out without the help of another person.

Treatment for cancer is being added to the list as of 1st of April.

auntypog

Fluconazole, the oral thrush pill, branded as Diflucan is £14.00. Boots' own brand is £12.00. Shadforth's generic is £4.95, which makes it cheaper than the prescription charge. I wrote to Boots asking why their own brand is so expensive. They credited my Boots card with £5 and said they'd 'look into it'... that was two years ago...

lana22

PeterPerfect wrote: »

As someone who is on long-term (life) medication, I can understand the frustration of having repeat prescriptions. One of the reasons now is the ability to track and review if a medication is necessary or needs to be changed, to stop wastage and curb possible abuse.
I am surprised about the comment about any doctor able to write a prescription, especially if that doctor does not have your detailed medical records.

I am a doctor in a hospital and prescribe on a daily basis medications for patients whom I have seen not a single page of their medical records. When a patient comes in to hospital, their records aren't available, and often take days (even weeks) to get.
It is down to the doctor to make sure what they are prescribing is safe and appropriate for the patient they are prescribing it for.

niceguy_tourist

I found out the other day that patients in England came buy a pre-payment certificate in Scotland and it will be valid in England as well. The pharmacy I was in checked with the Prescription Pricing Division. In April the 12 month pre-payment goes down to £38 I think and the 4 month one £13, Which is cheaper than the English ones

martinstart

My O H has just informed me that you can no longer pick up an application form for Pre-Pay Certificates at the Post Office, ( another contract gone ) ! Your Doctors surgery has them.

A-me

I was recently diagnosed with a bowel condition (although they are yet to decide what it actually is) and I have been put on tablets which I have to take three times a day along with fybogel which has to be taken twice a day. Therefore I have to buy two prescriptions every month.

I am a 19 year old full-time student, and my partner gets working tax credit but as there is no disability element and we do not receive child tax credit I have to pay in full for my prescriptions.

Does anyone know of any help I can get towards the cost of them? I don't have a wage and I don't receive any student loans as I am only at college.

This government really annoys me as it only ever seems to be the lazy dole-wallers or the disabled which get any help. What about the rest of us!

savetilibleed

Not sure but NHS guide HC11 has all the info on that sort of thing. If you can't, at the very least it would be worthwhile you getting a 12 month pre-payment certificate at £102.50 or a 3 month one at £27.85 as you get 2 items a month.

malc_b

The 3 month pre-pay is probably your first move. After that if you are still on the same medication as your doctor to increase the period. 3 months for £14 odd is better than 1 month. See my earlier posts on this. The DH and minister say the repeat period is up to the doctor so there is no reason he/she cannot prescribe for 3mth. Make it plain you can't afford it and if you can't get a longer prescription you'll have to change doctors to one that will. After all his salary is a function of the the number of patient so if you go he loses money (but I wouldn't point that out, stress the I can't afford it angle).