Fines on free prescriptions

[Sparks_]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-31537381

 

They change the rules and don't inform those affected then fine them for breaking the rule, to me it seems totally unfair!

[scousepie]

Under handed way of collecting money of the sick.. yet another Tax !!

[Nystagmite]

Aren't the majority of people who are medically exempt, those with life long conditions? Given that, can't understand why it's not automatic.

[Sparks_]

Aren't the majority of people who are medically exempt, those with life long conditions? Given that, can't understand why it's not automatic.

 

Because the NHS have decided it has to be renewed every 5 years and they will not be sending out reminders!

[think about it]

It all seems in exceptionally bad taste and inherently unfair. I actually look forward to someone challenging this in court.

[LZ-DEN]

hi,being a diabetic myself and have been for some years now,i have the 5 yearly card and its due to be renewed later this year,and i will be renewing it without fail,however as a back up (and for my wife’s prescriptions) we also have the HC1 certificate that covers us for free prescriptions and dental care.i do agree with 'scousepie' (above) this is nothing but a tax on the sick.

[Consumer dude]

Why does England pay for prescriptions and Scotland and Wales don't..

[citizenB]

Why does England pay for prescriptions and Scotland and Wales don't..

 

 

Because that is how Scotland and Wales have decided to use the money they are given - to provide free prescriptions.

[Consumer dude]

Feels very unfair. IMO..

[colin11]

I have to renew my passport every 10 years, no one sends me a reminder, i just have to keep checking it

[think about it]

I have to renew my passport every 10 years, no one sends me a reminder, i just have to keep checking it

 

There is of course, the assumption that someone may have the mental capacity to check their passport renewal dates. On the otherhand, someone who is on very many different types of medication, for any number of reasons, may lack that capacity to do so. So, is it reasonable then for a paid carer (provided that the person receiving the care always gets the same one - unlikely given the current state of social care) to have to keep a check on the person's 'ticket' and apply to renew it. Likewise, are you fined for misuse when your passport expires? No. Does your passport lapsing have any impact on your health? No.

 

If you wished to find a closer comparator then look at your driving licence. But, of course to hold one of those there is a reasonable assumption of the holders' capacity to check its validity.

[CrappoMan]

I have to renew my passport every 10 years, no one sends me a reminder, i just have to keep checking it

But they haven't sneaked in a fine for attempting to use an out of date passport. You just won't be allowed to travel.

[Sali]

I don't agree that the fine is a 'tax' on the poor or the sick. It's a penalty for not abiding by set rules - which may be fair or unfair.

 

Certainly, if you were told you were entitled to free prescriptions for life and the rules changed, but you were not notified, that is unfair.

 

Often, it seems to me, that common sense is not that common in organisations like the NHS Business Services Authority. It would be sensible for the pharmacist to alert the patient (or relative/carer) that they need to renew their exemption certificate when they collected their medicine and allow a grace period for this to be completed before any fine was issued.

 

Whilst I understand that there are indeed life-long conditions like type I diabetes, there are exemptions for other chronic conditions which are not necessarily for ever, such as type II diabetes. Oddly, asthma, (again, not always a long-term condition) does not even qualify for exemption. Where's the fairness in that?

 

Don't Blue Badge holders have to re-apply every so often and capacity, surely, is even more pertinent in this instance.

 

I would like to know why the NHS decided on time-limited exemption certificates and what, if anything, is saved after running and administration costs are deducted.