Holiday

[mag123ben]

Been on holiday to Summerset, stayed longer than expected, brother has big C cancer. So needed extra tablets. Chemist rang my surgery, he came back saying I was a foreigner, at first said no, but when said would pay changed his mind. £50 paid had tablets. Was humiliated when he said there was a lot of tablets. 17 packs. Shop full of people.. I live in South Wales. England. I'm 74 years old. British. What is happening. Everything is going mad.

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

hi mag123ben, so sorry to hear about your brother. I am also sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience in the pharmacy, I don't understand why you had to pay, medications prescribed on an NHS prescription are free for those aged 60 and over. Maz

[mag123ben in reply to Mazcd]

That is what I thought, but to be called a foreigner as well. Mind you if I looked under 60 should have made my day. Ha ha

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice in reply to mag123ben]

I think you should go back and show some proof of your age and ask for a refund. Maz

[Rem31]

It sounds like you were caught up in the NHS funding arrangements which are separate between the four UK countries. It really can feel like travelling internationally when that kicks in.

A relative was staying with his partner in North Wales during the first lockdown when he required a prescription from his Leicester GP practice. He wasn’t far from the Wales/England border so the prescription was issued to a pharmacy in England (Chester) and he was able to collect from there with the standard charge that applied to him as an NHS England patient.

Also, it’s my understanding that had a pharmacy in Wales dealt with his prescription they would not have been able to claim it from NHS England, regardless of his age. I’m guessing this is what you’re up against but happy to know more if you get a clearer explanation.

I believe prescription charges were abolished in 2011 by the Scottish and Northern Ireland governments for their constituents living there.

[lizzziep]

British customer service at its best! Pharmacists are supposed to be discreet. Obviously this one wasn’t.

I had to get some tablets while at my sons (my fault, I’d not taken enough with me) the pharmacy phoned my GP then gave me enough to last until I went home. However this was in England, I live in Yorkshire, son lives in Dorset.