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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Maternity exemption card - when did you receive yours?

33 replies

Anyat212 · 02/11/2018 20:24

I was wondering if anyone has any advice on the maternity exemption cards? I’m 17 weeks tomorrow and have my next mid wife appointment next Tuesday. However, with a brutal first trimester with sickness which has cleared up massively (finally!) I’m suffering with constipation and bleeding gums..

I’ve added all my prescriptions of sickness tablets I have tried a few different ones and another £30+ prescription today on constipation relief - I’ve spent not far off £80 (including dentist appointments) and as I’ve said I’m only 17 weeks!

I can assure you I’m not a tight arse however, part of me is definitely cursing as I could have bought a brand new maternity outfit from Topshop for that. I rang my midwife around 2 weeks ago and she said I’d be given this at my next appointment so I’ve left it at that. I spoke to the pharmacist today and he said I need to fill a form in and it could take longer to receive as it comes in the post?

This is my first pregnancy so I’m unsure how it works but I’m pretty annoyed if that’s true? I’m also curious if prescriptions/dentist appointment fees will be back dated and if so long?

Sorry for the rant, this was a genuine question.. I just really wanted them Topshop maternity jeans!! Haha

OP posts:
kmreeve · 02/11/2018 20:33

Yes, I was given my form at my booking in appointment- card then arrives in the post about a week or so after you send it off.

lambdroid · 02/11/2018 20:34

I got a form to fill out and send off at my booking appointment at around 10 weeks.

It took a good few weeks for the card to arrive, but it was on the system before the card arrived as the pharmacist told me when I picked up a prescription at about 13 weeks and didn’t charge me.

Hedgehogblues · 02/11/2018 20:37

What is this? What is it for?

Original poster
Anyat212 · 02/11/2018 20:43

I knew it! I never even thought at my booking appointment. I completely had baby brain but I’m sat there in smart office wear with a work badge around my neck and the mid wife never said a word! How annoying. I understand not every lady needs one of these, but surely it’s common sense for them to atleast mention it! Nobody wants to sit there in smart uncomfortable work clothes for the sake of it!

Do you know if they back date anything?

Thank you both for you responses x

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Original poster
Anyat212 · 02/11/2018 20:45

@Hedgehogblues it’s a card you receive in which your prescriptions and dental treatment is free during pregnancy and until the baby is 1 years old x

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Hedgehogblues · 02/11/2018 20:52

Oh thankyou.I live in Wales so that's not an issue for me.

AnotherOriginalUsername · 02/11/2018 20:56

My midwife did mine at my booking appointment so about 10 weeks. I didn't get a card though, just an email with the certificate number in. I just have to show it on my phone each time I need it. Might be worth checking your emails? Do you have receipts for what you've paid for? You may be able to reclaim it

Original poster
Anyat212 · 02/11/2018 21:16

@AnotherOriginalUsername thank you. I’ve checked my emails but don’t recall giving them my email address anyway (it could be my memory tho) it would help if they were just consistent across the board. Not the response of “we usually issue this at your 16 week appointment” I would prefer the truth and that they’d just forgot.

I do have the receipts it’s a mess on though isn’t it!

OP posts:
mayhew · 02/11/2018 21:20

In my area you get the form via GP reception. It's called FW8.

slothandsloth · 02/11/2018 21:22

I asked for mine at about 16 weeks and the midwife said they now don't give them out until 30 weeks due to NHS cuts Hmm I then asked my gp who said they now give them out at 20 weeks onwards so she sorted a form for me, I was about 24 weeks at that point. I wish they'd give all HCP the same info, it's really unfair Angry

Original poster
Anyat212 · 02/11/2018 21:38

@slothandsloth ah sounds like you’ve been in the same situation - how annoying! Completely agree with the same info part - these forms should be issued at the booking appointment not 20 weeks! That’s ridiculous!

I’ll certainly be challenging it if they say 20 weeks on Tuesday - that’s half your pregnancy! My GP today told me to ask again so she seems to think I should have had it by now, but she couldn’t give me one? To be fair my GP never confirmed my pregnancy I had to call the midwifes. I still think it’s a weird process but that’s a different story

I’m sat here in a right huff now on a Friday night, wow how life has changed 😂

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BlueBug45 · 02/11/2018 21:41

Odd - I got given a form for mine at my booking appointment at 11 weeks. The card came back within a week.

I just Googled and it seems that HCPs are making up the guidelines as it states here - www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/exemption-certificates/maternity-exemption-certificates - you can apply as soon as you are pregnant.

Bellafreud · 02/11/2018 21:43

You can apply for an exemption card as soon as a midwife or doctor confirms you are pregnant. I got mine at 8 weeks at my booking in appointment. Looking online, they will backdate the card from a month before they receive the application and they will refund amounts paid in this time so worth looking into by the sounds of it! www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/exemption-certificates/maternity-exemption-certificates

BlueBug45 · 02/11/2018 21:46

Oh and in my area the GPs refuse to give you prescriptions for things for constipation and heart burn but will give you a prescription for aspirin. The reason for the prescriptions for aspirin is they want the pharmacist to keep an eye on you as well.

And they also encourage you to go to the dentist.

In other words there are ways of doing the restrictions without refusing to sign the form.

Original poster
Anyat212 · 02/11/2018 21:47

@BlueHug45 I’ve just read that and the comments section on FB - a lot of people are in the same situation of not receiving the form until much later in pregnancy or even being told. Really confused why it’s not the same rule throughout.

I was 8 weeks when I had my booking appointment, thinking back the midwife told me to contact the doctor about getting anti sickness tablets too Angry

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Notquiteagandt · 02/11/2018 21:53

I had an annual perscription paid for so only applied once i needed dentist. Asked for form at 16w mw appointment. Took about 3w to arrive. The valid from date was the date of my 12w scan. Which is strange as it was my 5th scan. But guess thats main dating one.

yesmelord · 02/11/2018 22:05

I was given my form at my first midwife appointment at 8 weeks, sent off that day and received a week later. I'm 16 weeks now.

Starsong82 · 03/11/2018 07:50

Midwife advised me at my booking in appointment to get the form from GP reception, I filled my bit in, handed it back to receptionist and they arranged the rest and sent it off, arrived within a couple of weeks. I've never actually been asked for it by the pharmacy though, just ticked the maternity exemption box on the back of my prescriptions and handed them in, so don't know if they have a note of it on their system or were just really trusting before my card came through!

boodles101 · 03/11/2018 08:04

I never got mine either, didn't realise it was a thing until DS was born. I rang my midwife and she left a signed form at the reception for me. Luckily I'd had a smooth pregnancy in that I didn't need any prescriptions etc but it's bad they didn't tell me about it at all.

Original poster
Anyat212 · 03/11/2018 09:51

Thanks for everyone’s responses! I’ve just popped to get my nails done and there was a midwife in getting hers done. After a nice little chat I asked her about the form, she said she always provides this at the booking appointment so didn’t understand why anyone had to wait until 16 or even worse 20/24 weeks! She told me to just tick the back of the prescription next time and say my cards on the way - which to be fair it will be. Just some advice for anyone else in a similar situation.

It’s funny though I live in the North East and that’s two different midwives despite being in the same county, it’s less than 10 miles from the offices who provide these cards at completely different times!

More awareness definitely needs to be spread!

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PurpleFlower1983 · 03/11/2018 11:02

I got mine when I was about 8 weeks, about a week after booking appointment.

Lougle · 03/11/2018 11:10

You can get fined if you declare that you have a maternity exemption card and you don't have a maternity exemption card. The fine is £100 plus the cost of the prescriptions.

hootatoot · 03/11/2018 11:10

I think there might be some crossed wires here. The form you get at the 16 or 20 week appt is the one you need to give notice to your employer that you intend to take maternity leave. The maternity exemption application should be given at the booking appt. Also, be careful just ticking the back of your prescription without having applied for your card, they will fine you £100! This happened to my cousin who was a young first time mum who hadn't had the process explained properly. They wouldn't refund or waive the fine either!

Original poster
Anyat212 · 03/11/2018 11:26

@hootatoot I was thinking this as the midwife today initially thought I was talking about the MATB1 form which you receive much later anyway (I work in HR so I’m aware how that process works)

I also asked about being fined - she said you can’t get fined as your pregnant? But I’ve heard horror stories about this too but they did receive a refund. They should just issue this excemption form at 8 weeks everywhere, why fine people who normally pay for prescriptions but are pregnant - really targeting the right people Confused

You think you’d be able to process it online wouldn’t you, they don’t make anything easy.

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hootatoot · 03/11/2018 11:59

I know. It's all a very antiquated process really! Hope you get it sorted soon!