Exemption from Prescription Charges

[Paul42]

Hi,

Has anyone else had difficulty obtaining one of these? My GP has refused to sign as says in his opinion its not a cancer.

Paul

[skodaguy]

His opinion does not count. MPN's are recognised as cancers by the WHO and by haematologists generally. I would suggest that you try and get a printout of this and take it to him. also ask for receipts from your chemist if you have to pay for prescriptions and ask him to reimburse you. If he still refuses make a complaint to the CCG including a request for reimbusement as why should you pay for his mistake. Above all remain civil.

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

Hi Paul, I agree with Skodaguy, take a print out of the information we have on our website mpdvoice.org.uk/living-with..., however, if you still have problems you can ask your haematologist to sign it for you. If you still have problems after speaking to your GP and haematologist let me know and we will see what can be done. Best wishes. Maz

[Paul42]

Thanks Both

Im going to take it to my haem, hopefully he will sign it

Paul

[tinaj in reply to Paul42]

My Haem was the one that got it sorted for me and there was no two ways about it. We just asked if there was any help out there as I was out of work and couldn't claim anything, he then got his nurse to sort it out and I had no problem with it.

Tina

[Hidden]

When I was diagnosed with ET the hospital provided me with a printout of a fact sheet from the Macmillan website. The Macmillan website portrays MPNs as pre-cancerous. I suspect the majority of GPs use Macmillan as a point of reference. Most people I know are familiar with the Macmillan site as it is so widely advertised in hospitals, GP surgery and on TV. Just a thought!!!!!

[nicki2 in reply to Hidden]

i feel a lot of gps do not know enough about mpds i took a form for her to sign and she disagreed with me that et was not a form of cancer but also another gp in same practice admitted she did not know anything about et i think it would be useful that forums should be held for gps so they get a better idea about mpds

[piggie50]

Hi paul42,

I took the print out from the MPD site that Maz refers to, to my GP about 18 months ago as she didn't think I qualified. She signed the form and sent it off although I don't think she was convinced. When I next saw her a few weeks later she asked me about it and if I had been successful. I advised I had and she seemed grateful to know for future patients.

Maz, is there anything that can be done about the false information on the Macmillan website? It's not very helpful when our employers also refer to this site. It looks like we are not telling the truth about our condition.

[StuEP in reply to piggie50]

Ditto. It's been said for a while that their site was going to be updated but it would take them a while. It's taking them a while. In the meantime it's causing a good deal of confusion for anyone looking up MPNs.

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice in reply to piggie50]

Hi Piggie50, I will look into it. Maz

[sjdard]

I had the same my GP said I did not qualify, so I spoke with my specialist nurse at the hospital and and she signed the form and I now don't pay.

[lizzziep]

My haematologist told me straight away that I would not have to pay for the HU prescription as anyone on any chemotherapy treatment does not have to pay. However as I am over 60 I don't pay anyway! I can only get my prescriptions from the hospital as ordinary pharmacies don't stock HU.

[PeterET in reply to lizzziep]

As far as I know all pharmacies will hold stock of HU if they know you are a regular user. That's been my experience over the last 10 years of HU use.

Good luck!

[lizzziep in reply to PeterET]

Haem told me I wouldn't be able to get it from my local pharmacy! I just get it while I'm at the hospital.

[StuEP]

I got my exemption card but only after having paid my prescriptions for a year. I was able to reclaim 3 months, I think. I only found out I could get one by reading the info page on this site. No one at my hospital bothered to tell me. I just got a 'Oh, didn't you know?' reaction, as if clairvoyance is supposed to be one of the symptoms, but they did agree to sign without argument.

[Paul42]

I think as said, the different information available doesnt help. My GP said its a ''grey area' and as hes old school he doesnt consider its cancer. Then again this is from the same GP who wouldnt prescribe me any treatment for psorasis because It wasnt making me ill and was just a 'vanity' issue.

[Hidden]

Hi Maz I too would appreciate you looking into the Macmillan website. I emailed them last summer in support of a string we had on this forum discussing this issue and to date nothing has been done. It really does send out all the wrong messages to healthcare professionals, colleagues, friends and family. Thank you

[bruddery]

I think you are all very lucky in the UK. Here in Ireland I have to pay for all drugs and even doctors visits. (Dr visits are €50/60 per visit.) If I need an interim blood test because of things going awry that would cost me €20. I can visit the haematologist (who is 80 miiles away) for free, but if they suggest tests - for instance they referred me to dental hospital due to mouth ulcers and swelling of tongue/mouth area - also scans and bone marrow biopsies, I have to pay for everything except basic outpatient appointment. Enjoy it while you have it. I am over 60 but OAP is 66 here!! a little bit to go yet. Good luck to all.

[Twinkly]

One of my Bernese swallowed a bone by accident ,she was operated on at my vet last Friday ,she had an x ray and one night in the vets, it cost £1500 ,, imagine if we had to pay for all our treatment ,scans ,blood tests,bone marrow testing,staff who care for us,

As well as drugs,we need .it doesn't bear thinking about.. Does it ??.

[KevinJH]

I agree with Skodaguy - your gp's "opinion" on this is irrelevant. Guess he thinks he knows better than the WHO..... I took a copy of this page: mpdvoice.org.uk/living-with... to my gp and he was grateful for the information and completed the form in front of me (by his own admission he was in the main, ignorant of MPN's as he'd come across so few cases). Exemption card received within 2-3 weeks. And in light of your post concerning psoriasis - I'd consider changing gp if possible.

[Paul42]

Thanks, I am just going to let my haem sort it, i just thought it would be quicker with the GP.

[westlieght]

Hi I must be lucky as two GP, s at my clinic was happy to sign have have free for a few yrs now keep trying best of luck