prescription charges annual certificate

Savvy_Sue

Be VERY careful about sharing medicines! Is the dosage / strength the same? Is there any risk of infection from sharing creams / lotions / ointments? Is it really the same stuff as you've been prescribed?

Both my son and my husband have eczema. I sometimes use my husband's industrial size of prescribed moisturiser, but only because it's got a pump dispenser. My son has various ointments, and they are strictly for him because of the risk of cross-infection. (Believe me, you wouldn't want to go there!)

System

Just wondering..

At the mo, I get free prescriptions as I'm 17, but might have to pay when older if I can't get them from the low income scheme.

At the moment my doctor prescribes me, among other things, big tubs of paracetamol and ibuprofen(i have a chronic pain disorder), at about 200 a time. It would work out as at most half as expensive to get them just over the counter, rather than paying the prescription charge.

however shops, chemists etc aren't allowed to sell you 200 paracetamol in one go over the counter, and it would be a bit of a pain in the bum to get them 16 at a time or whatever, so I was just wondering if it's possible to have some kind of "prescription" saying that this person needs 200 paracetamol at once, but then me pay for them as normal rather than prescription charge..

If I can get my doctor to write my other prescription for more than one month at once, tho, it would work out cheaper to get a pre-pay certificate..

Anyway, anyone know?

thanks
Rosie

System

Anybody who needs Viagra on private prescription should consider shopping around. The fairly standard price for a prescripton of four 100mg tablets is £36. Moss Chemists offer this at £29.60. Buy the stronger dose and cut it up if you want to save the maximum amount.

Anybody requiring the stronger dose will regularly have to fork out £9 per tablet but you can reduce this to about £7.35. I assume Moss Chemists still make a profit and I don't see why other Chemists should profit further from active sex.

Is this a strange form of taxation for the unfortunate ones that have difficulties of such erectile disfunction simply because the government decide not to fund this drug. Do women have to pay for HRT? I rather doubt it. :-[ :-[

System

If you live near the Welsh border it's worth taking your prescription to Welsh pharmacy as they only charge £6.
However, this will be free in the future but you will have to be registered with a Wesh GP then.

System

I have been doing this for the past 2 yeras and it saves me hundreds as i have to get my pain killers every month as by law they can not prescribe more than 28 days at a time (ridiculous I know) but one way to squeeze mmore out of the law abiding tax paying person.

Hello All

It always seems everyone else knows something you don't but if this small tip helps just one person save money then that will do me.

I 1 item on prescription cost £6.20 and for the past 7 years or so until 2002 I was having to get about 3 items a month minimum which per year is ££223.20 visiting the chemist every time AND YET not one of them told me you can get 4 monthly and annual certs - not even the doctor who issues the prescription every month to me. 1 amount then as many prescriptions as needed. 4 months costs £32.40 and yearly £89. This may seem a lot but look at my saving £223.20 minus £89 a massive £134.20 a year AND that is just on regular medication for my condition let alone the odd prescription here and there that every needs.

Strange how I never saw this advertised they say millions goes unclaimed in benefits (like most people I don't like to be seen as though I am sponging off the state, but I work full time and there is nothing illegal about it).

Anyway, what with this years NI rises I know feel no compunction claiming this.

Hope this helps at least one person or maybe somebody you know.

Paul  :)


insert from Martin A breakdown of savings
Further on in this discussion pharmacist Maxad2002, produced a summary of ways to save.  It was so good i thought i'd bring it to the top.  Here it is.

Hi!
I work in a Pharmacy and am constantly amazed that so few people read their prescription or read the notices that we have to display in the shop.
Here are some tips for you on how to save on prescription charges.

Cheaper to Buy over the Counter!!
With many prescriptions especially for short term conditions like a fungal infection it is cheaper to buy over the counter. So next time you take a prescription ask, most chemists will tell you and you can save a packet. For example Daktarin cream 30g on prescription is £6.40 but over the counter for the same cream is £4.99!!

HRT and Two Charge items
There are certain things that two charges have to be paid and generally this is when there are two items in one box such as two tablets or a cream and a tablet.
The only way to get round this cost is to ask your doctor for two or three months supply instead of one or see what the maximum the doctor is willing to supply.
so instead of £12.80 for 6 months supply you could get 12months supply for same cost.

Private Prescriptions  
Many of us have to take antibiotics at some time in our life and at the time all you think about is taking them. However antibiotics are incredibly cheap so next time you need some ask your doctor if he is willing to write a private prescription. If he is all you will need to pay is around £4.00 instead of £6.40.
* please not this goes for antibiotics like amoxycillin, penicillin, metrondiazole and erythromycin. *

Low income
Other people have already mentioned it on this chat but if you are at uni or don't earn much ask for a hc2 form from your local pharmacy, theres quite a lot of q's but it's well worth it.

Prepayment forms
Preypayment forms are just like bus passes and enable you to claim free prescriptions for a certain amount of time. The forms are available from your local chemist and you can either fill it in or phone up.
To work out if it would be cheaper for you all you need to do is add up how many prescriptions you have over a year and if it is more than two a month it is cheaper for a 12 month certificate.  
If you have more than 3 a month over four months then it is cheaper for a four month certificate.
The main thing to remember is this if you are considering a claim then  get a NHS RECIEPT!! this is a form that once you obtained the certificate you can claim the money back from the post office.  
They last three months from the time you pay the prescription charge so it's well worth getting.

Well i hope these tips help. These are the basics and are designed to compliment what other people have said on here.  
The main thing is don't be embarrassed about asking because i can bet you that the person on the counter would if they were in your situation!!

Belper25

Having had the National Health Service in operation for so long, there is a tendency for people to forget that both GPs and pharmacists are contractors with the NHS, not employees. In return for specified payments, they provide NHS services.

However, both GPs and pharmacists are also free to provide non NHS services. These are generally referred to as private services. For pharmacists this includes the supply of medicinces and advice "over the counter" without prescription - they receive no payment from the NHS for offering this service (even when the advice does not involve a sale of a product).

For GPs it includes consultations outside the NHS. For example offering health checks for employers, confirming passport applications and offering private consultations.

Where a GP provides a private consultation, they then will write a private prescription. A private prescription is one where the patient pays all charges, none are passed on to the NHS.

As previous writers have commented this may then result in a charge lower than the NHS prescription charge. However, it is the decision of the pharmacist what fee to charge - so it is worth shopping around.

It is probably worth noting that a GP should only issue a private prescription after a private consultation. If you have accessed the GP under the NHS, you should be given an NHS prescription. A GP may charge for a private consultation. So do check.

Hope that helps,

Matthew

nickygee

I recently had to go to the doctor and was prescribed a vast amount of stuff. My doctor pointed out about the certificate because I regurlarly need to get stuff. When I got to the pharmacist she pointed out I could back date the form a couple of days so all the stuff I was getting was included. overall I found the service very good from my nice friendly doctor.

max2002ad

Hi!!
Well i am really glad that my last post has simulated so much feedback, conversation and debate.
I am so glad that the last post had such a pleasant experience from your doctor and your pharmacist.
Your health profressionals do have a lot of knowledge that they are only too pleased to help with.
All you need to do is ask!!
However you may find it easier asking advice off your local pharmacy about many matters as we have are in the best position to advise about saving money from prescriptions.

I can't explain private prescriptions better than Belper25 but i can add these two points.
The first point is that many doctors are quite willing to write private prescriptions and the only way you are going to findout is ask!!
The second point is that every chain of pharmacys work out their private prescription charges differently. Quite often the best are going to be small independents as they are often eager to get what can be quite a profitable business. So next time ask an independent how much it will cost and once they have quoted a price say you can get it cheaper and see what they say!!

Now to Crana99.
By Law You can only buy a pack of 16 from a normal shop such as a supermarket.
This is to try and stop or at least reduce suicides (it's been working btw!!)
However pharmacys can sell packs of 32 and if you ask the pharmacist they will be able to sell up to 96 tablets.
HOWEVER this is up to the pharmacist in charge of the pharmacy so it would be best for you to go to the pharmacy you obtain your prescriptions and explain the general situation.
However as a general point for run of the mill items like large amounts of ibuprofen or paracetamol you could ask your doctor for a private prescription and quite often it will be cheaper than a prescription!!

A final Money saving Point for You
Did you realise that the charges go up every 1st of april so if you have a prescription take it to the pharmacy before then and you save yourself 10p.
It may only be 10p but thats 10p the government aren't getting on April Fools Day!!!!

Hope this helps people and remember this, Pharmacists and pharmacys only collect Prescription charges they don't get to keep the money!! 8)

System

RE; astma treatments we were told that if you know the right drugs/inhalers then you can buy them over the counter of any pharmacy in spain without prescription and they are much cheaper and you can stock up as much as you like or can afford.This was the case last year and I dont think its changed.
also if you have relations /friends they could get it for you

:)I totally agree with Ian about Asthma sufferes having to pay for their perscriptions,my husband suffers with it and i dont think they should have to pay.

Belper25

I suppose just a quick comment with regard to managing asthma.

Many people with asthma will be on two inhalers - a brown one which prevents the asthma worsening and a blue one which relieves breathlessness. (Colours and shades will vary - ask your pharmacist for advice).

There is a school of thought (anecdotal evidence) that people with asthma may choose only to have the blue inhaler - because it does something. The brown one is possibly more important as it stops the condition getting worse, which in itself offers a long term saving.

There are some proposals to make it easier to obtain the reliever in the UK - watch this space. In the meantime, salbutamol (the main blue inhaler) may be one of the products it is cheaper to obtain on a private prescription.

When buying medicines in other countries, always look for a product license or a manufacturer you know. you will probably be fine for purchases within Europe - but should exercise due caution if travelling further afield.

If you are already taking medicines, check with the pharmacist - either abroad or when you return - at the earliest opportunity, to make sure that the medicine is safe for you.

We have friends in America who raved about a supermarket product for 'flu'. Over here it is a prescription only product, causes stomach ulcers and mixes dangerously with other drugs!

Stay safe!

Matthew