NHS prescription charge exemption

You can, under most circumstances, backdated the for for one month. The rules don't include any way of getting more than that.

It is possible that you could complain about the medical professionals helping you, based on the assumption that they breached a duty of care in not telling you that the scheme exists.

Even then it is unlikely that you would receive the full amount, because it would only be an ex gratia payment at best.

The main reason for this is because, in the same way that they have a duty to tell, we have a duty to ask.

Once upon a time this would have been a much more onerous than it is now, as relatively simple internet searches will point you in the right direction,and AI searches are even better.

So, annoying as it is, you have done a really good job in raising awareness of this.

This Macmillan webpage points sufferers at all sorts of help.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/financial-and-work/money-faqs

Hello L1m 

Quite right to rant too! You are not the first and won't be the last Community member to miss out on free prescriptions once you get a cancer diagnosis.

Navigating the journey can be very complex and as a Community Champion I considered a "pinned post" at the top of the group with a list of important points - but there are so many (don't forget a prescription for Calcium and Vitamin D if you are on Hormone Therapy, This is where you can get free sample pads for use after surgery etc) the list goes on.

I then thought should we have one with the pros and cons of either surgery. HT/RT, AS and Brachytherapy, but again there are so many and we are all different. So for me the best thing to do is leave it to the fantastic Community members to help one another and use their personal knowledge of their own journey.

It's a complex journey and I've been here 4 years and I learn something new most days - I have a reference bank - but as they say "everyday's a school day".

Thank you for bring this to everyone's attention.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Brian (Millibob),

It's probably safe to say that prostate cancer is still very much thought of as ''an old man's disease'' & because of that anyone over 60 would be on free prescriptions anyway, so the medical professionals may not automatically think about it. 

Having said that, there are still guys under 60 who do get diagnosed with PC who potentially are paying for prescriptions when there is no need.  In an ideal world it would be brought to their attention at the time a diagnosis was given, but do you know if it's something that's covered in the literature given out?

The sad thing is, I think I have now designated myself as an old man 

Best Wishes

Brian 

Hello Brian (Buzzers) 

That's a good question. I was 66 when diagnosed and had been on free prescriptions for a while due to Type 2 Diabetes controlled by medication.

It's listed on the NHS web page. I am also know that hospitals give your details to the NHS for the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS).

It looks like in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland it's automatic, as prescription charges don't apply but in England you have to apply for it. Patients are not routinely told!

Right Brian, as usual you have set me off on another quest. As you are aware as a Community Champion I have regular meetings to bring up important matters affecting us cancer bods so at our meeting next month I will bring it up and see what Macmillan can do to sort it out and make it better known.

Thanks Brian, you are turning me into an "old man" with all this extra work. !!

Kind Regards - Brian.