PRESCRIPTIONS
Anyone first affected by heart disease ... often leaving hospital clutching the contents of a small drugs cabinet ... will automatically think “blimey – my monthly prescription’s going to cost me a fortune!” but don’t worry, there are plenty of options available to ease the burden.
Here's the charges and options:
WALES: No charge for prescriptions for heart patients.
NORTHERN IRELAND: No charge for prescriptions for heart patients.
SCOTLAND: Recently reduced to £3.00 per prescription with charges scheduled to be lifted completely from April 2011.
In Scotland it is possible to purchase a pre-payment certificate at a recently reduced cost of:
£10 for a 4 month Period
£28 for a 12 month period
For more information and to download an application form CLICK HERE.
Don’t forget that prescription charges will be dropped from April 2011 when thinking about a pre-payment certificate.
ENGLAND: £7.20 per prescription
An important review has concluded that heart patients and people with other long-term health conditions in England shouldn't have to pay for their prescriptions. People with other conditions, such as diabetes and epilepsy already benefit from a UK-wide exemption but not so for heart patients ... yet! The Government has said any decisions will need to be taken in the context of the autumn spending review – so, until at least then, we have to pay.
If you have regular prescriptions (more than one a month), it might work out cheaper for you to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC).
A PPC is a kind of prescription charge season ticket and is valid for a year. It covers you for all of your own NHS prescription charges, no matter how many items you need.
The charge for a single prescription is £7.20, whereas a three-month PPC will cost you £28.25 and a 12-month PPC £104.00.
The most convenient way to pay for your 12-month PPC is by direct debit. This means you can spread the cost evenly over 10 monthly instalments. You can buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) online, simply CLICK HERE, or by phoning the NHS on 0845 850 0030 or filling in form FP95, which you can get from your pharmacy.
For more information: click here.
FREE PRESCRIPTIONS: Some people are entitled to free prescriptions due to their age, income or medical condition. You are eligible for free prescriptions if you:
- are 60 or over,
- are under 16,
- are 16-18 and in full-time education,
- are disabled,
- have a certain long-term medical condition such as diabetes or epilepsy,
- are having treatment for cancer, or
- you or your partner are on income support.
To find out if you’re eligible for free prescriptions, check with your doctor or read our information by clicking here.
USEFUL INFO:
| Did you know that Boots now offer a fantastic online repeat prescription service - a convenient way to manage your repeat prescriptions, saving you time and extra, unnecessary trips to your GP. |
To sign up for the service, all you need to do is complete a simple online form and Boots will contact your GP surgery to order and collect your repeat prescription. You can then collect your medicines from one of selected Boots stores or, if it is more convenient, they’ll deliver your medicines to an address or Post Office of your choice.
Find out more about Boots Prescription Sercices by clicking here.
Info by HeartWeb, the UKs national online heart support group.
