Maternity exemption certificate

[MrsW9]

I am 4+6 - I have been to my GP surgery to see the nurse a few times for something not pregnancy-related and was prescribed medicine. I recently learnt that prescriptions are free with a maternity exemption certificate. Do I have to wait till the booking appointment to ask for one of these, or can I get one earlier? I'm not expecting to go back to the surgery before the booking appointment, but it would be helpful to have one sooner because of repeat prescriptions and dental checkup due.

Just ask and see if you can get it before the booking appointment?

However just as an FYI Ive never had to produce mine when picking up a prescription (even when not showing) I've just said I'm pregnant when they ask if I pay for prescriptions.

Hi @MrsW9 , I’m not sure when we actually get the exemption certificate but just to let you know I’m a dental nurse and we don’t actually have to see the certificate to be able to provide free NHS dental treatment, you just have to sign a form and put your due date 🙂

Make sure you have the exemption certificate before you use it. I had the paperwork and thought that was enough- but hadn't realised I had to send that off to get the actual certificate. I was fined for incorrectly claiming am exemption, and it was tricky to sort out.

So you can get the maternity exemption certificate at booking and need to request it be backdated (can be by up to a month) to include when paid, but you can only claim the money back if you requested an FP57 receipt at time of paying for the prescriptions, have you picked them up yet? Looks like can't ask for it later.

More detail on here:
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-you-have-nhs-exemption/maternity-exemption-certificates#:~:text=You%20may%20get%20an%20NHS,paid%20for%20your%20NHS%20prescription

I've been getting anti-sickness meds so looked into it. Hope this helps, if you need more meds or yet to pick up then make sure you ask for an FP57 receipt.

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful. I just paid for my prescription last week, but this is all so useful to know for the next few weeks as a booking appointment would still be several weeks away!

GPs and midwives can issue them.

My pharmacy insisted on seeing it - people have been fined for not providing it.

My midwife issued it at my booking in appointment, it came through electronically in less than 12 hours. But she'd already prescribed me extra folic acid at 5 weeks so I had to pay for that out of pocket.