Invoice for prescriptions from an a and e visit

[scooterbear]

I've received a letter this morning from the NHS invoicing me for 5 seperate prescription charges that I incurred during an a and e visit following a serious accident in December-drugs used during my immediate treatment in a and e. When did this become a thing?!
I will obviously pay it (I can just about afford it) and I still recognise that it's immensely good Value considering all the NHS resource I used (ambulance, drs, x ray, scans, etc etc). I was just a bit surprised as I've never heard of this sort of back dated prescription charging before?
What happens to people that need emergency treatment but can't afford the back dated prescription charges?

Isn't the charge per prescription not per medication? If you have several drugs on one prescription it should still be the same price not each drug as a prescription?

Per item I think for normal prescriptions?

No, that’s not correct, it’s some admin error.

@RogueRebel

Isn't the charge per prescription not per medication? If you have several drugs on one prescription it should still be the same price not each drug as a prescription?

It's per item not per prescription

Don't ring the number on the letter if there's a possibility that it's a scam.

I wouldn't call the number on the letter - if the letter is fraudulent then that number will only connect you to the fraudsters. I'd try to find a contact number for the hospital from a reliable source eg their website.

I'd phone the hospital directly rather than any number on the letter, just in case this is a scam.

Its interesting that they cite a specific regulation as the reason why they can charge. I've just looked it up, and it is related to the supply of drugs by 'out of hours providers' but also says, from what I can gathers (its not the easiest thing to understand!) that it doesn't apply where the drugs were needed for immediate treatment, or were adminstered to the patient by the 'out of hours provider'. Which would exclude drugs given while in A&E I'd say.... So something about the fact that they've cited that regulation makes me think its there to scare you/make it seem real, but isn't actually genuine because the regulation doesn't actually say they can charge you....

Look up the hospital PALS number and talk it through with them first.

There is a number for invoice queries on the paperwork.

If you were there as a result of a car accident, they can charge and your insurers should pay.

Don't call the number on the paperwork. If its a scam then those won't reach the hospital switchboard!

Phone the hospital itself.

Call the hospital directly. I would assume it was an error.

Are the specific drug's listed? It could be a duplicate invoice for the pain meds if it was not recorded that you have already paid.

Contact PALS at the hospital you were admitted to.

Do not call the query number on the letter if there’s any doubt it’s from a genuine source. And I’d be doubtful.

Google “PALS [Hospital Name]”

Weird.

That looks like a genuine letter. And it looks like the correct number for an extension at that hospital too.

But I have never ever heard of a hospital charging a citizen for medications administered as part of the stay.

That looks genuine. You can contact prescription enquiries and talk to them. I have googled. The numbers are very similar. I vaguely remember getting a prescription for dd in hospital and having to sign that she is a minor and therefore gets free prescriptions.

The number on the letter seems to be for Addenbrooks outpatients department, so not sure why people assume it's a scan.

*scam

When your husband collected and paid for your prescription the next day was it for two items? My money would be on an admin error at that end and that these charges relate to those medicines (that you can prove have been paid for) and not the meds administered in A&E.

Was this Harlow? this happened to me a few years back I called to query and they said it was normal

It may be something to do with the fact that it was an accident: if it was someone else's fault and you were claiming against them, you could recover this cost as part of the claim. But it seems somewhat premature before they know whether you have a claim or not.

You should be paying prescription charges for medication administered in A&E, as it's not an inpatient department. Whether they choose to invoice you, or not, is another matter.

Yes, Harlow.
Specific items not listed
I have two letters, same dates on the other but due x 3 items so five items in total from the date I was in a and e. We paid for painkillers on prescription from a and e in our way out if the hospital the day after.

@stingofthebutterfly really? So this is common practice? Literally never heard of it before...

I've never paid for things prescribed in A&E (to take at home) - and there have been a few occasions. I can't say what the official rules are but I've definitely not been charged. What I would say though is that I think I was given the medication in my hand (inhaler, antivirals, antibiotics are the ones I can think of) rather than having to pick it up from the hospital pharmacy so that might be how/why I avoided paying.

I think you would want to know the exact prescription items/dosage that were administered - before settling…..or maybe they are itemised on your discharge letter.

I would want to pay - but only if I knew what they actually were.