Are patients with PV entitled for Free Prescriptions?

[AlexMir]

I was diagnosed with PV in 2011 at the age of 36. I've been managing my condition using Hydroxycarbamide and Clopidogrel and I always paid for my medicines. However after checking on NHS website I realised that patients with PV might be entitled for free prescriptions.

According to nhsbsa.nhs.uk/exemption-cer... patients with cancer are entitled for free prescriptions. PV is a form of blood cancer so it might be covered but I am not 100% sure.

Please could you let me know?

[mol56]

Yes, you are. Suggest you contact your surgery for the appropriate forms.

[Headinthesand]

I also interested in the answer to this but from a slightly differeht angle. We go privately, initially theough our insurance but now we have to pay to see the consultant. Because of this we are issued a private prescription, would there be a way of getting the drugs any other way and thus qualifying for free prescriptions. Not sure how long we xan continue to fund it

[HardwareHarry in reply to Headinthesand]

If you’re in the UK and the drug you’re being prescribed is approved for issue by the NHS (through NICE) and your local CCG then you can ask your private consultant to write to your GP and ask them to prescribe for you. This assumes that your underlying illness is on the list of eligible conditions - all cancers (including MPNs) are I believe.

Your consultant really should have suggested that to you. Of course, if the drug you’re being prescribed isn’t covered by the NHS then you’ll probably have to stick to a private prescription.

If your underlying condition is an MPN, ask at your Doctor’s surgery about a prescription exemption form - your GP will need to sign but you are eligible. Once you have that, all prescriptions you have will be filled without charge by any pharmacist. It needs to be renewed every five years.

Good luck!

Paul.

[Headinthesand in reply to HardwareHarry]

Hi, thank you. He is on hydroxy for PCV so soubds like this should be covered. Sorry wgat is CCG? and where can i check that.

[HardwareHarry in reply to Headinthesand]

CCG - Clinical Commissioning Group, but hydroxy for PV will be covered. One letter from your consultant, then an appointment with your GP to have then set up your prescription and get the form for exemption done and you should be all set.

Link for prescription exemption information: nhsbsa.nhs.uk/exemption-cer...

[Hidden]

Clinical Commissioning Group.

Basically it’s a cancer so ALL prescriptions issued in the UK by your GP or consultant would be free to you even prescriptions issued unrelated to the MPN. Renewed every 5 years but as it is a chronic cancer it will continue until the rules change.

[nodmeister]

simple answer is yes. Ask your G.P. for the form and he/she has to sign it. You can tick the exemption box once you've sent off for one, just tell the pharmacist it's on it's way.😁

[NewBloom]

In the UK Yes, I renewed my exemption card last month.

[Molly_v]

I am confused by this too. I have ET and my doctors surgery have refused to sign my exemption, even when I said what the condition is classed as. I have recently started on heparin injections (reasons associated with the ET) so decided to apply. I was told by my doctors surgery 'it's not on their list of conditions'.

[AndyT in reply to Molly_v]

Ask your consultant instead as they can sign these forms too and should be better informed. No problem getting mine for ET through my consultant.

[AlexMir]

Thank you for your help! I got an exemption application form at the surgery, filled it in and returned to the surgery. Three weeks later I received an exemption certificate. This certificate is valid for five years.

Thanks again!