Legal dispute
This project aims to raise funds to resolve a claim, or other type of dispute.
Stop UK Gov. escalating debt from sick & disabled
Luton, United Kingdom
£0
Target: £750
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Aim: In solidarity with everyone who has received unfair penalty, fine and surcharge for NHS prescriptions, I am raising funds to challenge NHSBA
Terrified to order repeat medications
Housebound and shaking; unable to leave he house due to extreme vertigo caused by permanent cycling hemiplegic migraine. Malnourished, in fear of losing my sight, at risk of stroke or heart attack, yellow and peeing blood, I relied on the good will of health service practitioners to re-order prescriptions, and pharmacists to correctly process and deliver repeat prescriptions. Imagine my shock when 'NHS BUSINESS AUTHORITY sent a letter, piling on fines and surcharges because there was a 15 day administration gap in repeating my pre-payment certificate. One error by the pharmacy processing my life saving prescriptions escalated a missed prescription charge into a bill of £168.30. I was given no opportunity to correct the original error. The letter states "you cannot pay until PCN* has been issued" (* with fine). I did not sign the back of the prescription, I did not claim on the prescription that I was entitled to free prescriptions; and yet have been fined and surcharged 500% of costs. I called NHSBSA and was old that communication would be put on hold until I had time to formally respond. it was not: instead a surcharge was added. Awarded DWP mobility because I cannot leave the house without a carer; and with cognitive disfunction caused by permanent chronic health condition I now suffer the impact of increased mental and physical health problems caused by unfair demands from NHSBSA. Suffering increased anxiety I am now to scared to contact GP incase a medical prescription is automatically generated to the pharmacy.
In solidarity with everyone who has received unfair penalty, fine and surcharge for NHS prescriptions (an issue raised today, 16th June 2025, by journalist Anna Tims in The Guardian), I am raising funds to cover administration & consultation costs in order to:
1. petition The House of Commons
2. petition The House of Lords; and
3. challenge NHSBA on legal grounds.
I am asking for your help because I am currently living on a taxable private pension worth only £75 per week.I am also in receipt of a similar amount of DWP mobility allowance because I am unable to travel unaccompanied (and rely on taxis). An escalation of costs additional 500% of the original cost is unaffordable and unfairly penalises individuals who suddenly become acute sick or disabled.
I will update you about progress of fundraising, and the actions listed above (including legal grounds in more detail), via video here within the Crowdfunder platform. I reserve the right to extend deadline and fundraising target if costs of legal challenge escalate.
Context
Prepared and laid before parliament in October 1999 ( following the sudden replacement of Frank Dobson by Alan Milburn, as Secretary of State for Health ), The NHS penalty charge regulation 1999 Act came into force just one month later. Signed by John Denham then Minister of State, Department of Health) “makes provision for a civil penalty to be imposed where a person wrongly fails to pay an NHS charge in respect of provision of drugs”
Journalist Anna Tims, of The Guardian, reports of people being "...fined despite paying for their NHS prescription". In my case I was too ill to visit the pharmacy, I did not sign the prescription, or claim the I was entitled to a free prescription.
Note of interest: Dobson abolished the internal market in the NHS (revised by his immediate successor)
If you have received unfair penalty, fine and surcharge for NHS prescriptions and this impacted you with fear, or anxiety, or mental or physical or financial worries, please consider contributing to this fund to advance justice.
If you can help in any other way, please contact me directly.
Many thanks for supporting me in this advocacy, awareness raising, social justice and non violent direct activism.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 28th July 2025 at 8:01pm