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Double prescription charges

6 replies

frostyfingers · 30/11/2017 18:06

I have for years been eligible for free prescriptions but now as circumstances have changed (not financially, but for family reasons) this is no longer applicable. I am hugely appreciative of this benefit and have just been to pick up my regular prescription with money in hand ready to pay my £8.60.

However I was unprepared for the fact that my medication counts as a double cost because it it a “2 ingredient” prescription so have had to pay £17.20 - even though it is in one foil package and one half is useless without the other. Looking on the NHS website, the charge is £8.60 per item so surely something packaged and prescribed as one should only be charged as one?

Yes, I’ll get a Prepayment card and no I won’t complain to the surgery because it’s nothing to do with them, but I do think the explanation and wording needs to be changed to make this clear.

Has anyone else been caught out like this before?

OP posts:
madamginger · 30/11/2017 18:13

Lots of products are 2 or sometimes even 3 charges.
A canesten combi is 2 charges as there are 2 different products in the box (a cream and a pessary.
Stockings are charged at 1 fee per item so I pair is 2 charges, 2 pairs is 4 charges.
psnc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Multi-charge-card.pdf

LineysRunner · 30/11/2017 18:17

A crappy one I've heard of is HRT with oestrogen and progesterone in it. For women with early menopause, this is to prevent onset of osteoporosis. Why double charge?

I don't get double charged for Zapain with paracetamol and codeine, for pain.

Viviennemary · 30/11/2017 18:23

Yes this is a thing I've heard of before. I googled it and there's even an old MN thread asking the same thing. HRT prescription in that case. It does seem a bit unfair as they are in the same packet. If you could get a six months prescription then it won't seem as bad.

Silvercatowner · 30/11/2017 18:24

Yes, I get double charged for my HRT as the package contains 2 different types of pills.

Chrys2017 · 30/11/2017 18:24

Yes, this has been the case for as long as I can remember.

Ollivander84 · 02/12/2017 02:35

Don't know if you have sent off for it yet but if you backdate your pre payment card you can claim the charges back if it helps?

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