Is a pre-payment cert worthwhile?

[Dilbertian]

Over the last few years I've always taken out a prescriptions pre-payment certificate, but this year I'm not sure whether it's worthwhile. Because I haven't paid over the counter each time I pick something up, there are some things that I don't know how they are charged. For example, asthma inhalers. Are you charged per item or per medication? If I'm prescribed 2 inhalers of the same medication, would I be charged £9.15 or £18.30?

You are charged per item.

You are charged per item. It's worth talking to your pharmacy about this, they can help!

So 2 x Salamol would cost £18.30? I never know whether I'm going to pick up one inhaler or two.

I have in the past been prescribed a number of tablets that was greater than the standard number in a packet, so the pharmacist has given me one standard packet and either one relabeled half-emptied packet, or one plain box labeled with just the prescription label. Would that have been charged as £18.30?

Do you get one prescription per month?

Not any more.

I've moved from HRT that is prescribed in 4 week blocks, to one that lasts 6-8 weeks. So that's a reduction in prescriptions - unless the HRT shortages flare up again and I have to use yet another form. But there are other meds that I take on an as needed basis, so I cannot predict how many prescriptions I will need in a year.

The most confusing one is the asthma meds, as sometimes I am prescribed one inhaler and sometimes two of the same inhaler.

I looked on the NHS website before asking on MN. 'Per item' is confusing terminology. It's not clear whether that means per different medication or per individual package of medication.

2 boxes of my statins equate to 1 item. Considering an annual cert works out at around a tenner a month, it makes a huge saving for me as I'm on 4 lots of meds

If they're exactly the same medication then it's one charge. So two salbutamol inhalers is one charge. If you have a preventer inhaler as well then that's a second charge.