Evening all,
I’ve just received my welcome letter from the company who will be providing me with all my stoma equipment needed.
I had my stoma nurse over on Tuesday to discuss everything and check all ok and she’s put through my 1st order but nothing was discussed re charges etc. I’m a little confused as to whether I’m exempt from paying for prescriptions and if so what do I have to do and also if not how much do I pay/is it monthly that I need supplies etc? Any advice would be much appreciated although I think I will phone my drs and stoma nurse to discuss also.
many thanks
Hi Char Cad Charlotte
You are exempt from paying for stoma supplies on the NHS, and your cancer diagnosis should have given you an exemption from any prescription charges like tablets etc. When I was originally diagnosed with cancer, I completed a form given to me by my CNS and got a card to show at the pharmacy for painkillers etc so I had exemption from any charges.
Although your stoma nurse has put through your first order, you will be responsible for ordering and managing your supplies in future, usually on a monthly basis. I was never told about any of this at the start and found it very confusing! I wish it was all better explained.
Things are different for us all, but in my own case my requests for supplies are dealt with by a company called Nottingham Appliance Management Services. I call them and tell them what I need (it can differ month to month depending on what I need). They send this to my stoma supply company and a prescription is sent electronically to my gp surgery who sign it off. My supplies are then delivered by DPD. I used to simply phone the stoma supply company who sent a prescription to my gp for sign off so this system I have to use now seems cumbersome!
The prescription exemption for painkillers and other such medication lasts for 5 years. I turned 60 during the 5 years, so never had to apply for a new exemption certificate, as all prescriptions are now free for me in England, and I’ve required many prescriptions over the years which are not cancer related-all were exempt from payment.
I hope this helps and others will chip in with their processes, but the main thing is-you don’t pay for stoma supplies!
Sarah xx
It honestly took me a while to suss everything out, and I couldn’t understand why it had been made so difficult!
But there is an exemption form to sign for free prescriptions so you definitely need to sort that out. I left hospital with a huge bag of meds and I’ve had many meds since for other stuff-all free. Contact your gp and get them to sign off the necessary form and you’ll be sorted.
Sarah xx
