Does anyone know a lot about prescriptions? Ex's son asking me for (not much) money WWYD?

[3adultstepkidsish]

I had a very turbulent and mostly unpleasant LTR with my ex.

She has four adult children.

Youngest son I spent quite a bit of time with. He's basically a nice young man but has many issues/MH-related disabilities, self harms quite badly, and lives with his carers with whom he has been with since childhood.

We used to go on days out, I helped facilitate their relationship which wasn't great and/or non-existent before that. He's stayed over at our house several times, I always tried to be a good 'step parent' if that's what I was.

He smokes cannabis a lot as far as I can gather.

When I split with ex, I remained close to her eldest son and often messaged the younger one but didn't get much back. Haven't heard from him for about a year up until boxing day when he messaged saying he couldn't afford his prescription and what should he do.

I said have you told [X] and [X] (carers)? He said yes-I said have you asked your Mum he said yes.

I rang ex who said he wanted it for (recreational) drugs and to not give it to him.

I do not have contact for his carers.

Tonight I have had;

"Called up today to see if prescription was ready and they refuse to alter what was in the bag to suit the amount of money I had.

Are they allowed to?

My mum sent me 20 last night and i called my pharmacy this morning

Could you please send me 20?"

I asked again if his carers knew and he said he is staying with friends during lockdown (why this means anything I don't know.

Would a chemist do this? It is essential medication for his conditions. I don't want to be seen as stepping on his carer's toes but then, he is an adult isn't he?

As far as I know he isn't working so should probably have free prescriptions anyway.
I didn't get him anything for xmas, have no idea of his address or what he would want so I don't begrudge giving him £20 even if he hasn't been in touch for so long. I am just unsure.
WWYD?

YABU-Send the poor lad £20
YANBU-Don't send him £20.

Phone his pharmacy and pay direct. Otherwise do not send him money.

Probably having you on. Is he claiming benefits? I guess he is if he has carers. It would be free.

If he's on an income related benefit he will get free prescriptions.

He can choose to only collect certain items off his prescription (I think he could get 2 prescriptions for £20 at the current price).

If you wanted to help with prescription costs you could buy him a 3 month prepayment certificate
www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/save-money-with-a-prescription-prepayment-certificate-ppc/

Tbh though I don't think that's what he wants the money for; the pharmacist could already have talked to him about managing prescription costs and probably will have done if he's had a lot of items prescribed.

If he has regular prescriptions then he would have paid for the card thingy which means you can get all your medicines no matter what they cost for a set price a year. Isnt it about £12 or something (I'm in Scotland so we get free prescriptions but I've seen this card thing spoken about on mumsnet).

You can offer to buy him a prepayment prescription certificate for just under £30. It will cover all prescriptions for 3 months and you can buy it online for him - so not handing cash over directly. I suspect he's fibbing.

If he’s on benefits he would be able to get three proscription. They do charge by item I get two medications on proscription collect both Monthly and I’m charged for both.

Fab, thank you all. I think he's fibbing too. I only have contact with him on messenger and he used to change his account all the time so although I had messaged him I had no idea if he was able to pick them up or if he was no longer using that account. The prepayment thing is a good idea. I wish I knew how to get in touch with his carers-but I don't and neither does his Mum.

Money for drugs, classic excuse. Do not give him anything other than support and advice if he so wishes to engage with you. Make it clear your there for him but not financially. If anything as pp said pay direct to pharmacy but slippery slope.

Don't buy prepayment, these can be sold too.

Current prescription charge in England is £9.15 per item however if he is on benefits will definitely great them free. Also the pharmacist does not charge per amount of medication it’s per item so 10 paracetamol or 200 is £9.15 however if he has aspirin, and paracetamol that is 2 items & 2 charges. ( just used as examples cheaper to buy over counter than get on prescription.)

Sounds like bullshit.

@SlB09

Don't buy prepayment, these can be sold too.

How? A pre payment will be checked against your nhs number. They don't issue cards anymore either, it has to be printed off but the chemist can check it online to see if it's valid because mine did when I renewed it and didn't have any documentation. It's not a pre loaded card that anyone can use.

Apologies if that's not what you're talking about.

As others have said I’d ask which pharmacy and get their number from google to speak to them directly. His own mum is saying that he wants it for drugs money and it does sound like it, unfortunately.

@Putthegasfireon alot of pharmacies don't check against the prescription NHS number, people sell them (for cheap) and just try their luck basically. People also sell/buy prescriptions for certain medicines and take those to the pharmacy to either take themselves or sell on. I worked in drug and alcohol services for many years and you'd be surprised just what gets exchanged foroney, even if it's a few pounds!

Dont give him the money. If he's got carers theres a good chance hes on benefits and doesn't pay for his prescriptions anyway. Some people are medically exempt from paying also depending on their condition. Tell him you'll pay for it over the phone and to give you the name of the pharmacy. You'll have your answer then. He'll either be grateful or kick off.