A short guide to your rights as an NHS patient with intimate health needs.
Facts about NHS patient rights and exemption certificates
A short guide to your rights as an NHS patient with intimate health needs
Prescriptions
In the UK, we are in a privileged position that we do not need to have to buy our products. The NHS provide most stoma care products on prescription. However, it may not always be clear if you have to pay for your prescriptions.
People with certain medical conditions can get free NHS prescriptions.
Medical Exemption
Medical Exemption Certificates are issued on application to people who have:
- a permanent fistula (for example urostomy, colostomy, or ileostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or requiring an appliance a form of hypoadrenalism (for example Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
- diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism
- diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone
- hypoparathyroidism
- myasthenia gravis
- myxoedema (that is, hypothyroidism requiring thyroidhormone replacement)
- Or are undergoing treatment for cancer, including the effects of cancer, or the effects of current or previous cancer treatment.
Here’s what to do:
- If you think you are medically exempt, apply for a medical exemption certificate by asking your doctor for an FP92A form.
- Your GP, hospital or service doctor will sign the form to confirm that your statement is correct.
If you are not medically exempt, you can still get help with your prescription charges.
If you have regular NHS prescriptions it may be cheaper to buy a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC). You can choose either an annual, or a 3 monthly certificate depending on your circumstances.
Apply online: Prepayment Certificate. Or you can call the PPC order line on 0300 330 1341.
Please ensure you have your bank details or credit/debit card details ready.