Can someone tell me how prescriptions work in England please?

[secretcbeebiesfan]

I didn't think it would be this complicated! I have moved to England from Wales. In Wales my prescriptions were all free.

I have eczema so usually have about 3 creams on a prescription and I have one other prescribed item. How much would this cost me?
I probably only need to get new creams about every 6 months!

I think they are £8 each now, aren't they? So £8 x 4 items = £32

Or you can get a prepayment thing for just over £100 a year. But if you only need 8 prescriptions a year, you won't be saving money.

I would double check that the creams are prescription only - it can be much cheaper to buy them over the counter.

Google the name of the cream - loads of direct websites.

I use the chemists direct website (something like that) for various tablets etc.

Each prescription is £8.05, so all of that on one prescription would cost £32.20

Ouch a lot more expensive than I was hoping!! This is when I hate having a condition out of my control :(

Thanks for the tips everyone!

apps.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppcwebsales/

If you are getting things regularly, it might be cheaper to get a pre-payment certificate.

Might be cheaper to get a 3-month pre-payment cert for when you get all your stuff prescribed at once (£33).
Or ask for a NHS receipt when you get the items, and then you can claim back if you later get a pre-pay cert.

Are you on any benefits, pregnant, or have a condition that gives you free prescriptions? Look at the back of the form. If you are on a very low income you can apply for free prescriptions (get receipts again).

They've really clamped down in the last few years on how much can be prescribed at once - I used to get 6 months of various things but now have to fight for 6 weeks...

It's a pain I sympathise. I get 2 weeks worth of meds and pay each time and since I don't know how long I'll be on them for I don't want to risk a pre paid thing but may have to anyway

Work out the cost and see if it's worth the pre paid certificate or see if you're exempt from prescription charges.

For certain lifelong conditions, eg. Thyroid, epilepsy etc, you can get a medical exemption card and all your prescriptions will be free.

Thanks again for all the other posters advice! I will look into the options and maybe pop into a local pharmacy to discuss options too.
It was so much easier back in Wales :)

We use the pre-payment card. It's £114.00 per year. Dh's prescriptions come in at around £550.00 per year, so it's definitely worth it.