Shocked at cost of prescription

[Cindy1802]

I've been on iron tablets before, when I was pregnant and PP, but I have been exempt from paying for prescriptions then.

I've recently had some blood tests for something else and I came back low on iron so was prescribed iron tablets. There was a bit of a mix up with my actual prescription at the pharmacy, so while I was there I bought some iron off the shelf to keep me going while I got in touch with the GP. (I still wanted the prescription as I didn't know what the dose was that the GP prescribed, so didn't consider just not collecting it)

I went back this morning to collect it, and two boxes cost me £9.35. Turns out it was exactly the same dose as the two boxes I bought a few days ago for just over £3.

I couldn't believe it! I stupidly still paid it as I didn't look at what was in the bag til I got home.

Is it just me or does this seem ridiculous??!!

Some medicines are cheaper off the shelf than the prescription price (obviously people who get their prescriptions free are better off getting them on prescription). Usually the pharmacy staff would alert you to this though and suggest you just buy it! You’ll know for next time.

Most medicine cost significantly more than the prescription charge, so if a few things cost less it just makes a bit of a contribution to fund more expensive medicines.

You don’t have to keep getting the prescription in future though, it’s fine to buy it off the shelf if it’s the same.

Prescription cost probably also cover costs to do with dispensing as well.

Off the shelf it’s like a tin of beans. Someone stacks it and then you scan it. Minimal costs.

As a prescription someone writes the prescription and then by one secure system or another that goes to a pharmacist. It gets double checked from a separate much lower volume handling system, and then given to you by a person separate to your other shopping.

£6 for the extra costs seems a bargain.

I had a sty on my eye, GP said it’s cheaper to buy over the counter and it was. Decent pharmacies tell you whether you can get the item cheaper buying the counter items.

Always check the over-the-counter price if you pay for your prescriptions.

If you need a regular prescription long-term that isn't available or cheaper over-the-counter, a pre-payment certificate can save you money.

I’m on a few medications a month and have dressings twice a week. I worked out I had 146 prescriptions last year that would have cost me £1,365. Luckily they do a pre-payment certificate which is around £110 for the year and any prescriptions you get in that time are ‘free’. There is no way I could have afforded to spend over £1,000 in a year.

It’s definitely something to bear in mind if you need a lot of prescriptions and definitely worth asking the pharmacy if you can buy it cheaper.