The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7381 p774
24/31 December 2005

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· Medicines use reviews
· COX-2s
· Registration
· Other professions
· Prescription charges
· CPD
· Fitness to practise

Letters to the Editor

Prescription charges

Report difficulties to citizens advice bureaux

From Mr M. E. James, FRPharmS

Anyone who dispenses NHS prescriptions will be aware of the difficulties around charges: particularly, identifying those who should and should not pay. Citizens Advice, the national association of citizens advice bureaux, is becoming increasingly concerned about the number of clients faced with penalty charges, frequently, apparently, due to misunderstanding of the regulations. Regrettably, those misunderstanding the position, according to the latest Social Bulletin, occasionally include pharmacists and their staff. The bulletin highlights a case where a patient, who could not read, ticked the wrong box and is now being pursued by the fraud authorities. Once upon a time, of course, inaccurate claims were rarely followed up; nowadays the “police presence” is much higher.

The bulletin also discusses the perennial problem of patients trying to eke out medicines or asking which is necessary. Colleagues should consider referring patients who ask about this to their local citizens advice bureau (for financial advice) since CA’s social policy department is collecting evidence of the hardship caused by these charges and is trying to reduce the present inequities in these charges. The CA’s recording system is good, and they are likely to get a good handle on the number of people having problems.

Miall E. James
Colchester, Essex

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