NHS Maternity exemption card

[s2204]

Hello, I’ve had an maternity exemption card for a few weeks now but unsure how it works. I’ve suffered from heartburn all through my pregnancy, so been buying a 600ml bottle of gaviscon weekly! I understand I can get this for free with my card, does it need to be prescribed or can I just go into the pharmacy and ask for a bottle?

You need a prescription.

Just carry on buying it yourself if you can afford it?

To get it on prescription, like any other prescribed drug, you need to see your GP to get the prescription and take it to the pharmacy.

But the thing is, you can buy a huge bottle of Gaviscon yourself from Amazon for £10, but if you get it on the NHS, it costs the NHS a lot more than £10. (I can't say the exact figure, but possibly more than three times as much)

Another example which I think the NHS are trying to get rid of is paracetamol and gluten free food products. Paracetamol costs pennies to buy over the counter for us, but it will cost the NHS around £12 a box...

Yes, just buy it yourself unless you’re really financially hard up. The maternity exemption is for prescription medicine.

Yes, you need a prescription. Ask in your pharmacy for Peptac liquid. It is exactly the same as Gaviscon and comes in the same aniseed and peppermint flavours but is about £2.85 for a big bottle.

In Scotland (don't know if this is true elsewhere) the exemption card entitles you to the Minor Ailments service at a pharmacy, where you can get gaviscon for free without a prescription. You just have to register at the pharmacy with your exemption. There's a whole bunch of other medications you can get too, it's worth looking into.

If you're getting through that much Gaviscon, might you be better trying either ranitidine or omeprazole? I found ranitidine much more helpful. Available OTC and on prescription.

If you can afford it pay for it! Don't use your card it costs the NHS much more. I have needed antibiotics and various things throughout this pregnancy but I don't use my card because at the end of the day it's only around a tenner a go which I can afford. Unless your financially hard up, then I'd just carry on paying for it

You get prescribed whatever you need, and on the back of the prescription form it asks why you're exempt and one of the option is "valid maternity exemption card" Lord knows having a baby is expensive enough without added medical costs. Use it how you like, just don't abuse it.

I agree with pp that if you can pay for it then do. A question for NHS experts, though. Why does it cost more for the NHS to buy it?!! Surely it should cost less if they buy in bulk etc? Don't mean to derail but am curious.

@mussie is right. If you're in Scotland you don't need a prescription, you can just get it from the chemist on minor ailments.