Prescription fraud clampdown plan heavily criticised

[chenrezig]

Prescription fraud clampdown plan heavily criticised

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30622544

Pharmacists have heavily criticised plans to strengthen checks at the counter for entitlement to free prescriptions in England.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society says asking pharmacists to police prescriptions could harm patient trust.

By 2018, a new database will be up-and-running for pharmacists to check before handing over a free prescription.

Ministers say these extra checks could save the NHS £150m a year, which will be ploughed back into the NHS.

Fraud checks

Currently, pharmacists have to rely on people's honesty when dispensing medicines for free.

The patient will sign the back of the prescription form to say that they are exempt of any charge.

The NHS Business Services Authority runs checks, but only after a free prescription has been issued.

The Department of Health says this is not timely enough, meaning the system can be abused.

An estimated 30m prescription items totalling around £237m are incorrectly claimed each year.
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Prescriptions in England

You can get free NHS prescriptions if you are:

over 60, under 16 or aged 16-18 and are in full-time education
pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate
have a specified medical condition and have a valid medical exemption certificate
have a continuing physical disability that prevents you from going out without help from another person and have a valid exemption certificate
hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
an NHS inpatient

You may also be entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner receive certain allowances, such as income support.
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Health Minister Dan Poulter said it was time to get tough on those who avoid paying their fair share towards the NHS.

"Claiming a free prescription when you are not entitled takes money away from other frontline patient services, and reduces the amount of money available to spend on patient care."

Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Dr Keith Ridge said the new measures aimed to strike the right balance between collecting charges and providing care.

But the body that represents pharmacists in Great Britain, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, says the new system could get in the way of treating patients.

RPS Board Chair David Branford said: "This move to make pharmacists police the Government's unfair charging system is totally unacceptable to us.

"Our job is to put the needs of vulnerable people first and make sure they get the care they need."

Around 90% of prescriptions in England are currently dispensed free of charge.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have scrapped all prescription charges.

[annie]

[maureenho]

[chenrezig]

This was "close to home" as it were last week as Monday I went down, literally, with the worst stomach bug I have ever had .. to cut a long story short ( and not put you off your tea lol), my Gp sent the chemist round with three lots of medication as I hurt my back when I passed out at one point, something to rehydrate me, and something to "stop" it.

I had the greatest difficulty in trying to convince the chap who brought the stuff round that I had to pay for it!

I ticked the box to say I was the patient, and left the benefit boxes unticked. The chap told me not to worry as he would "sort it" and refused to take any money.. I called my GP's back and they told me I would have to pay, I said I know that.. grrr ! .. and that it was between me n the chemist.

I then called the chemist - he hummed and haarrred a bit, then I got cut off .. I phoned back it was engaged, waited a bit, phoned and got through ... He said I needed to pay, I told him .. I KNOW ! They then sent the chap who delivered the stuff back round.

I made sure I got the receipt in my hand first as no way was I handing money over without in case they said I hadn't paid and I ended up getting "done" for non-payment ..

What a palaver ...