Question re NHS prescription fines

[ItsABeatifulDayNow]

I am now eligible for free prescriptions due to epilepsy diagnosis but the three different professionals (various consultants treating me) who told me this failed to mention there was any kind of application so I assumed I could simply tick the "because I have epilepsy" box on prescriptions without having to complete the application process I am now aware of.

My fault for not looking into it more - happy to pay the (apparently maximum?) fine of £100 to teach me to check more thoroughly or ask caters to do so.

My query is whether I could be fined for every visit made with a wrong claim e.g. If I have picked up prescriptions and ticked the exemption box ten times (when I used to diligently pay and was happy to!) could I in fact be fined x10 visits so a total of £1000?!

If someone could please please help explain thatd be amazing, I'm so frightened of being hit with this kind of fine as I can't afford it :(

Say nothing and you probably won’t get fined. I had a couple of years when my card had gone out of date and I didn’t realise (was still theoretically eligible, just with an out of date card). It wasn’t followed up.

Thanks so much for replying I really appreciate it :)

They haven't said anything yet that's true just hanging over me like a big NHS shaped albatross so causing anxiety (a huge fit trigger so chicken and egg!) maybe I will ring the epilepsy society helpline tomorrow and see what they think too...

Any NHS workers / anyone who knows anything else re max fines being per person or per prescription / visit please do let me know!

I would still apply for the exemption certificate ASAP to cover you for future costs. You usually need to show it each time you're collecting a prescription.
If you receive a fine then you would be able to query it and hopefully have it rescinded.

Thank you too @Happyinheels I'll Defo do that asap - tomorrow in fact.

God so much to get my head around I had no idea how life changing a life changing illness is as stupid as that sounds?

Feels so unfair that at your lowest points there seems to be the most admin / potholes / ways to be kicked while you're down in the system!

I have had a similar experience as the pharmacist gave me wrong information regarding my benefits/prescription costs and I followed it without checking.

I called the NHS number on the fine letter and was advised that it was a 'spot check' system regarding checking exemptions for free prescriptions.

I still got fined 4/5 of the times I mistakenly claimed a free prescription though. They let me set up a payment plan as I couldn't pay it all at once.

It’s normally the £100 fine plus the script fee for every script that you’ve had that you’ve not paid for.