Can I ask about prescription charges?

[carrielou2007]

I’ve known I have high blood pressure for a number of years but had no idea how high, no I’ll affects. At recent smear test Nurse asked to check BP, talked about checking breasts, few other things and BP found to be 180/120. Given appt with GP who precscribed meds’.

I bought BP monitor on GP’s advice, from these readings meds increased, another prescription BP settled at 137/93.

Recently had emergency op totally unrelated BP v v high again. Left hospital with 3 items on prescription, paid 3 charges and fingers crossed things slowly improving.

I realise i’ve run out of BP meds, went to GP Surgery to order more, never really had anything other than pill years ago on repeat. I must have been living under a rock, prescription is for a month and I pay the further charge, is it £9 every month?

I’m a single parent and do get a small amount of tax credits (pay for registered childcare when i’m at work) but do I have to pay this charge each month? Google not helping me!

Yes you'll have to pay it for each medication each month.

You can get a pre paid thing that I've heard works out cheaper

You could always work on improving your health and maybe come off the medication ifat all possible. Maybe have a chat with the nurse.

If you’re buying more than one item on prescription regularly it’s worth paying for the yearly or quarterly prepayment card. You can get details at your chemist, drs or online.

Thank you, just feel so silly I never realised! Unfortunately it’s been high for years even with normal range weight BMI and whilst heavier when pregnant. I do like Prosecco though so point taken

You can get pre-pay cards, and for some chronic conditions such as diabetes, you can be exempted from all charges (not just the ones directly relating to the qualifying condition.) Ask for a form at your GP's reception.

Even if you work on your overall health, that won't have overnight results, so you'd need to be getting prescriptions for a while yet.

If you're going to be on it long term then a prepay certificate will work out cheaper

£104 for 12 months

Althiugh your GP may opt to prescribe you more e.g. 2 months worth at a time, in which case it wont be worth it as that would only be £9 6 times a year

Like others have said it might be well worth you buying a pre payment certificate. You can pay for it monthly over ten months if you can't afford the one off payment. I've got one and it's saved me a fortune.

Move to Scotland?
No prescription changes there.