Chemist Charge For Delivery

[HongKongphooey]

My elderly mother 82, gets all her prescriptions delivered from our local Pharmacy, she isn't in great health so gets quite a few scripts over the year. and she pays £1 for each delivery.
I have another elderly friend of 87 who also has her prescriptions delivered but her chemist delivers it free. She's recently moved to another part of her town, and her new Chemist delivers free also. She is quite insistant that my mum shouldn't have to pay for prescriptions to be delivered, as if Mum's chemist is deliberately defrauding her. My mum doesn;t mind paying £1 each time, its not alot and it saves her having to try and get up town. (she has very limited mobility) But my elderly friend is convinced the chemist is breaking the law by charging deliveries. This friend is a re-tired school mistress and can be quite forthright about things!! I suppose it does add up over a year, but I really don't think its worth an investigation by the serious fraud squad. What do other answerbankers think?

[mazie]

My Mum never paid for a delivery.. I would check it out

[RATTER15]

I think chemists that deliver free are providing a very generous service, even the £1.00 charge is very little!

[RATTER15]

I dont think chemists are obliged to deliver anything to be honest!

[EDDIE51]

Some chemists do have a charge for deliveries. They do not have to deliver free, someone has to pay the delivery man. Nothing illegal about it.
In fact they do not have to offer delivery at all.

[EDDIE51]

Just checked with my daughter who works for 'Boots', no chemist has to offer deliveries at all . Those that do are free to charge. There is an exception for Oxygen and other gas cylinders that are delivered free.

[Peter Pedant]

I have emailed the General Pharmacy Council with this very question
( GMC for chemists )

it is all very well saying they have overheads and will starve if they dont....e tc

however think for a moment of the good old days of home oxygen with cylinders... when you are house bound... can the chemists levy a charge to deliver a cylinder or two ? You cant expect the patients to do the old heave ho into the back of the car if they are oxygen dependent

[Peter Pedant]

Thank you Eddie

I had wondered about oxygen cylinders ....

[hc4361]

Jhoots don't charge for delivery. See if there is a branch in your mum's area

[hc4361]

These days oxygen cylinders are delivered by a contracted company, not the chemist. It should cost nothing.

[trt]

I have my repeated medication delivered free from Lloyds every month, and if there is anything I need in between, that is delivered free as well.

Most large Chemist company's will deliver free, as they make approx £7.00 per prescription.

[boxtops]

Some charge, some don't. Check with your local pharmacy why they are charging your mum - if they won't budge, go to another chemist. They'll be glad of the new business.

[hc4361]

Boots charge £2.95

[trt]

## Boots charge £2.95 ##

They are free at Newmarket Boots.

[boxtops]

It doesn't seem unreasonable to charge £1 for fuel for delivery, but most chemists here offer a free service. I don't think for a minute there is a law saying they shouldn't charge.

[trt]

Does your mother have a Lloyds where she lives, as they are free everywhere, not sure about Scotland.

[tonyav]

My eighty five year old aunt never gets charged for having her prescriptions delivered ( Lloyd's ).

[EDDIE51]

It is down to each chemist to decide , some offer a free delivery some charge some do not deliver at all. We have 2 branches of 'Boots' one has a volunteer driver who delivers and charges £2 the other does not do deliveries.

[TWR]

I would not complain regards a £1 H.K. If it take the hazel out of going up to town, it's worth it.

[Cloverjo]

Regarding trt's post. I thought the most of the prescription charge went to the NHS. Is this not true? I know pharmacies have to make a profit, but this seems excessive.

[Maydup]

Would it be possible for the friend to sort this out for Mum seeing as she knows all about it? Maybe ask her to investigate which chemist she should use at her address for free delivery.

If not, tell her she's wrong and it avries from chemist to chemist and to get lost! Mum's happy to pay £1 for a good service frm people who know her well.