Prescription charges

[Nickyanne]

good morning, I hope the sun is shining where's ever you are! This is my first post on here , I recently joined after going through a bit of a blip. I have ET , diagnosed 13yrs ago at the age of 25. I have been taking hydroxycarbamide since & have had 3 years taking interferon (I had 2 babies) .

My question is regarding prescription charges in England...... I get my prescription for hydroxycarbamide after I see my haematologist at the hospital & take the prescription to the hosp pharmacy who dispense it for me. Up until recently I have not had any problems with this & med is dispensed with no question about payment. On my last few visit the pharmacy assistant asked me if I normally pay for prescriptions (I do) but I said I thought these Meds were not chargeable due to the nature of them ( being a chemotherapy?) she then got the manager who asked me to describe what my malignancy was - in the middle of the waiting room! I said I felt it was private matter & felt uneasy being asked personal questions in the waiting room. I was then made to fill a form in to say I had an certificate to exempt me from paying. ( I don't have a certificate) & the med was dispensed with me feeling like a criminal!!

I do normally pay for prescriptions but does having ET mean I am entitled to an exemption certificate ?

How do you get one?

If I am not entitled will I owe 12 years worth of prescription charges?

Any advise gratefully received! Nicky

[ChrisAnnSen]

Personally I am old enough to have free prescriptions anyway but I looked at MPNVoice and this is what it says:

Cost of medications – exemption certificate

MPDs reclassified

In 2008 the World Health Organization (WHO) reclassified myeloproliferative disorders (all MPDs including myelofibrosis (MF), polycythaemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythaemia (ET) as “myeloproliferative neoplasms”. This is an important change if you are receiving treatment for MPNs. From April 2009 all people in England receiving medication for the treatment of cancer, including MPNs, have been exempt from prescription charges.

This is where I found it if you want to read more:

mpnvoice.org.uk/living-with...

Hope this reassures you. May be next time you collect your prescription you take a print out of the page.

[Nickyanne in reply to ChrisAnnSen]

Thank you for that! Really useful 😀

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

Hello Nicky, yes you are indeed entitled to an exemption certificate for all your medications, not just your Hydroxycarbamide, you will need to ask your GP or better still your haematologist for a FP92A, you need to complete one section and your haematologist completes and signs the declaration to confirm that you are being treated for and receiving medication for cancer, as MPNs are classified as blood cancers, more information on our website

mpnvoice.org.uk/living-with...

if you have any problems please let me know. Best wishes, Maz

[Nickyanne in reply to Mazcd]

Thank you Maz. I would only use it for the hydroxycarbamide. I will need to get that exemption certificate sorted out from my haematologist can not be dealing with the stress of the pharmacy police after a afternoon spent in haematology outpatients!

Many thanks, Nicky

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

you are welcome. Maz

[Tpearson]

Hi Nicky, get an exemption form from your GP you are entitled to free prescriptions, I was diagnosed last year & given great advice from my local Boots pharmacy which helped enormously. Good luck Theresa