I have been exempt from NHS prescription charges as I have been a type 1 diabetic since birth in 1954 and get my insulin and other medicines every month when I endorse the prescription form that I am exempt,. Today I came across my exemption card and with horror saw it expired in 11/2011. I telephoned the Newcastle office who issued it straightaway and they could not have been more unhelpful and really frightened me.
I explained that my mum died in 2011 when things fell apart for me and I had to move to sheltered housing where care is available 24/7 as I am now a brittle diabetic with no warnings of 'hypos'. Also I did not receive any reminder letter that they say will be sent. The card is only renewed every 5 yards so renewal hardly sticks in your mind.
They said that despite all this I would be fined or be told to pay all my prescription costs for 11/2011 - 2/2013 (when i will renew the card)
or both and they told me to contact a particular office to discuss it
adding they would be more likely to 'go easy' on me; if I contacted them rather than them finding out about it (which I now discover is 1 in 70,000). They gave me a steady list of wrong numbers which only increased my stress and worry and by the time I ascertained the correct one (nearly 3 hours later) , the office was closed and I had to make do
with leaving a message.
I kept saying that I was entitled to an exemption card in the 11/2011 - 2/2013 period as I was still diabetic taking insulnn but they kept replying that that was irrelevant - whether I was entitled to a card or not, I did not actually have one and I could therefore be forced to pay or be fined.
I am VERY worried about this. I do not want advice about how to go on from here but whether the Newcastle office was correct in what it said about the likelihood of fine/payment in view of the other things they told me which turned out to be completely wrong (different people there were contradicting each other much of the time).
Thanks
I explained that my mum died in 2011 when things fell apart for me and I had to move to sheltered housing where care is available 24/7 as I am now a brittle diabetic with no warnings of 'hypos'. Also I did not receive any reminder letter that they say will be sent. The card is only renewed every 5 yards so renewal hardly sticks in your mind.
They said that despite all this I would be fined or be told to pay all my prescription costs for 11/2011 - 2/2013 (when i will renew the card)
or both and they told me to contact a particular office to discuss it
adding they would be more likely to 'go easy' on me; if I contacted them rather than them finding out about it (which I now discover is 1 in 70,000). They gave me a steady list of wrong numbers which only increased my stress and worry and by the time I ascertained the correct one (nearly 3 hours later) , the office was closed and I had to make do
with leaving a message.
I kept saying that I was entitled to an exemption card in the 11/2011 - 2/2013 period as I was still diabetic taking insulnn but they kept replying that that was irrelevant - whether I was entitled to a card or not, I did not actually have one and I could therefore be forced to pay or be fined.
I am VERY worried about this. I do not want advice about how to go on from here but whether the Newcastle office was correct in what it said about the likelihood of fine/payment in view of the other things they told me which turned out to be completely wrong (different people there were contradicting each other much of the time).
Thanks