Free prescriptions

[tuglet]

It appears that the list of conditions that qualify for free prescriptions was updated earlier this year. Since April 2009 you are entitled to FREE prescriptions if your condition is the result of you having cancer e.g. if you are on daily testosterone replacement after TC. You need a form, available from, and signed by, your GP. This gives a rolling 5 year exemption from all prescription charges.

For more details, see this PDF: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digi...

Edited by tuglet on Wednesday 4th November 12:42

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

Thank you for that info.

[Nubbin]

Free prescriptions for everyone in England would reduce Govt. income by £400 million a year - a modest amount considering the vast sums spent on banks recently. So why are there no plans to abolish this stealth tax as in other parts of the U.K? Makes my blood boil (as well as my piss )

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1159656/...

[tuglet]

Nubbin said:

Free prescriptions for everyone in England would reduce Govt. income by £400 million a year - a modest amount considering the vast sums spent on banks recently. So why are there no plans to abolish this stealth tax as in other parts of the U.K? Makes my blood boil (as well as my piss )

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1159656/...

Daily Mail said:

The BMA called on the Government to follow the lead set in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland where prescriptions are free for everyone.

Prescription charges in Scotland were recently reduced from £5 to £4. They will continue to come down until they are free for everyone - I'm not sure when that will be - but they certainly are not free for everyone yet.

[Paul Dishman]

There is no such thing as a "free" prescription. Only 10-15% of NHS prescriptions attract the £7.20 per item charge, but even this doesn't go any where near covering the costs of the NHS. The rest is paid by general taxation.

[eldudereno]

Another thing to make everyone aware of is prepayment certificates. If you're spending more than £104/year on prescriptions, save some money and buy one of these certificates for £104 then all of your prescriptions are paid for in advance. The certificates also allow you to get free over the counter medicines like hayfever tablets/nasal sprays, eye drops etc, probably many other medicines that I'm not even aware of.

Was waiting in a queue not so long ago at an Asda pharmacy when I saw the guy in front of me spending over £30 on his prescriptions, he was most grateful when I enlightened him.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

[Paul Dishman]

eldudereno said:

Another thing to make everyone aware of is prepayment certificates. If you're spending more than £104/year on prescriptions, save some money and buy one of these certificates for £104 then all of your prescriptions are paid for in advance. The certificates also allow you to get free over the counter medicines like hayfever tablets/nasal sprays, eye drops etc, probably many other medicines that I'm not even aware of.

Was waiting in a queue not so long ago at an Asda pharmacy when I saw the guy in front of me spending over £30 on his prescriptions, he was most grateful when I enlightened him.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

You're partly correct-prepayment certificates are season tickets for NHS prescription charges, however they most certainly do not allow you to get free over the counter medicines. Where on earth did you get that idea from?

[oldbanger]

Paul Dishman said:

eldudereno said:

Another thing to make everyone aware of is prepayment certificates. If you're spending more than £104/year on prescriptions, save some money and buy one of these certificates for £104 then all of your prescriptions are paid for in advance. The certificates also allow you to get free over the counter medicines like hayfever tablets/nasal sprays, eye drops etc, probably many other medicines that I'm not even aware of.

Was waiting in a queue not so long ago at an Asda pharmacy when I saw the guy in front of me spending over £30 on his prescriptions, he was most grateful when I enlightened him.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

You're partly correct-prepayment certificates are season tickets for NHS prescription charges, however they most certainly do not allow you to get free over the counter medicines. Where on earth did you get that idea from?

Well you can certainly get them for free if your doctor agrees to prescribe them, otherwise I've no idea either.

[eldudereno]

Paul Dishman said:

eldudereno said:

Another thing to make everyone aware of is prepayment certificates. If you're spending more than £104/year on prescriptions, save some money and buy one of these certificates for £104 then all of your prescriptions are paid for in advance. The certificates also allow you to get free over the counter medicines like hayfever tablets/nasal sprays, eye drops etc, probably many other medicines that I'm not even aware of.

Was waiting in a queue not so long ago at an Asda pharmacy when I saw the guy in front of me spending over £30 on his prescriptions, he was most grateful when I enlightened him.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

You're partly correct-prepayment certificates are season tickets for NHS prescription charges, however they most certainly do not allow you to get free over the counter medicines. Where on earth did you get that idea from?

Actually on this earth in my local chemists so stick that in your pipe and smoke it mr know it all.

Edited by eldudereno on Saturday 7th November 00:26

[Paul Dishman]

oldbanger said:

Paul Dishman said:

eldudereno said:

Another thing to make everyone aware of is prepayment certificates. If you're spending more than £104/year on prescriptions, save some money and buy one of these certificates for £104 then all of your prescriptions are paid for in advance. The certificates also allow you to get free over the counter medicines like hayfever tablets/nasal sprays, eye drops etc, probably many other medicines that I'm not even aware of.

Was waiting in a queue not so long ago at an Asda pharmacy when I saw the guy in front of me spending over £30 on his prescriptions, he was most grateful when I enlightened him.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

You're partly correct-prepayment certificates are season tickets for NHS prescription charges, however they most certainly do not allow you to get free over the counter medicines. Where on earth did you get that idea from?

Well you can certainly get them for free if your doctor agrees to prescribe them, otherwise I've no idea either.

Obviously if he writes an NHS prescription then you can use your prepayment certificate, but you can't just walk into your local pharmacy, brandish a ppc and walk out with a free pack of paracetamol

[Paul Dishman]

eldudereno said:

Paul Dishman said:

eldudereno said:

Another thing to make everyone aware of is prepayment certificates. If you're spending more than £104/year on prescriptions, save some money and buy one of these certificates for £104 then all of your prescriptions are paid for in advance. The certificates also allow you to get free over the counter medicines like hayfever tablets/nasal sprays, eye drops etc, probably many other medicines that I'm not even aware of.

Was waiting in a queue not so long ago at an Asda pharmacy when I saw the guy in front of me spending over £30 on his prescriptions, he was most grateful when I enlightened him.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

You're partly correct-prepayment certificates are season tickets for NHS prescription charges, however they most certainly do not allow you to get free over the counter medicines. Where on earth did you get that idea from?

Actually on this earth in my local chemists so stick that in your pipe and smoke it mr know it all.

Edited by eldudereno on Saturday 7th November 00:26

If you'd looked at my profile you'll see its my job to know it all. And you're wrong.

[Scraggles]

have had free prescriptions for several years, even the items that have nothing to do with the main reason that qualifies me to get them free

think it is about 5 items per month, so £35 per month saved

[sherman]

I love my medical exemption certificate no prescription charges ever

[Pickled Piper]

Paul Dishman said:

eldudereno said:

Paul Dishman said:

eldudereno said:

Another thing to make everyone aware of is prepayment certificates. If you're spending more than £104/year on prescriptions, save some money and buy one of these certificates for £104 then all of your prescriptions are paid for in advance. The certificates also allow you to get free over the counter medicines like hayfever tablets/nasal sprays, eye drops etc, probably many other medicines that I'm not even aware of.

Was waiting in a queue not so long ago at an Asda pharmacy when I saw the guy in front of me spending over £30 on his prescriptions, he was most grateful when I enlightened him.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

You're partly correct-prepayment certificates are season tickets for NHS prescription charges, however they most certainly do not allow you to get free over the counter medicines. Where on earth did you get that idea from?

Actually on this earth in my local chemists so stick that in your pipe and smoke it mr know it all.

Edited by eldudereno on Saturday 7th November 00:26

If you'd looked at my profile you'll see its my job to know it all. And you're wrong.

just looked at your profile and on the basis that you are a fellow 911 owner I accept your comments.

Seriously though, I agree, you need to have an NHS prescription from your GP or similar for the "over the counter medication". You can't just walk in with your prepayment certificate and demand Beechams powders for free.

pp