Unlock Free Prescriptions in the UK

Navigating the world of prescriptions can feel overwhelming, especially when managing a condition like lymphoedema. But here’s the good news: you might be eligible for free prescriptions in the UK and understanding how to unlock this can make a huge difference in your self-care journey. Let me walk you through what I’ve learned, so you can take full advantage of the support available.

Understanding Free Prescription Eligibility in the UK

When I first started looking into free prescriptions, I was surprised by how many people don’t know they might qualify. The NHS offers free prescriptions to certain groups, and knowing if you fit into one of these categories can save you money and stress.

Here’s a quick rundown of who might be eligible:

• Under 16 years old (or under 19 and in full-time education)

• Pregnant women or those who have had a baby in the last 12 months (with a valid maternity exemption certificate)

• People aged 60, if you are under 16, or aged 16 to 18 in full time education

• Individuals with certain medical conditions and have valid medical exemption certificate

• Those receiving specific benefits such as Universal Credit or those on a low income

• War pension or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

  
  

If you’re managing lymphoedema, you might fall under the medical exemption category, which is a real relief when you consider the ongoing costs of compression.

To check your eligibility and apply for the right certificates, you can visit this helpful resource on free prescriptions uk.

Pharmacy counter with prescription forms

How to Apply for Free Prescription Eligibility

Once you know you might be eligible, the next step is applying. It’s easier than you might think, but it does require some paperwork and patience.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Get the right form: For medical exemptions (FP92A), you’ll need a specific form from your GP or hospital.

2. Fill it out carefully: Make sure all your details are correct. Mistakes can delay your application.

3. Submit your application: This can often be done by post or in person at your GP surgery.

4. Wait for your certificate: It usually takes a few weeks, so plan ahead if you’re running low on medication.

   
   

If you’re unsure about the process, don’t hesitate to ask your GP or pharmacist, they’re there to help. I found that being proactive and asking questions made the whole experience smoother.

What Conditions Qualify for a Medical Exemption Certificate?

This is a key question for anyone managing a long-term condition like lymphoedema. The NHS has a list of medical conditions that qualify for a medical exemption certificate, which means you won’t have to pay for your prescriptions related to those conditions.

Some of the qualifying conditions include:

• Diabetes mellitus

• Epilepsy requiring continuous therapy

• Cancer (including remission)

• Hypothyroidism requiring continuous therapy

• Hyperthyroidism requiring continuous therapy

• Tuberculosis

• Certain types of rheumatoid arthritis

• And importantly, cancer related lymphoedema because it requires ongoing treatment

  
  

If your condition is on this list, you can apply for a medical exemption certificate, which covers all prescriptions related to that condition. This certificate is valid for five years, so it’s worth applying even if you don’t need it immediately.

FP92A Medical Exemption Form as your GP

Tips for Managing Prescription Costs with Lymphoedema

Managing lymphoedema often means regular prescriptions for compression garments, skin care products, and medication. Here are some practical tips I’ve picked up along the way to help keep costs down:

• Keep track of your prescriptions: Know when they’re due for renewal to avoid last-minute rushes.

• Use a home delivery service for NHS prescribed medical appliances such as Daylong or Patient Choice.

• Use your exemption certificate wisely: Always present it when collecting prescriptions to avoid unnecessary charges.

• Stay informed about changes: NHS policies can change, so keep an eye on updates from trusted sources.

  
  

Remember, managing your condition well means fewer complications and less need for emergency prescriptions, which can be costly.

Empowering Yourself Through Knowledge and Support

When I first started dealing with lymphoedema, I felt isolated and unsure about how to manage the financial side of things. But joining communities and accessing resources made a huge difference. The L-W-O Community, for example, is a fantastic patient-led hub that offers support, advice, and advocacy for people like us.

By understanding your free prescription eligibility, you’re not just saving money—you’re taking control of your health. It’s empowering to know that help is available and that you don’t have to face this alone.

If you want to learn more about how to access free prescriptions and other support, check out this detailed guide on free prescriptions uk.

L-W-O Community's home office affectionately known as the Connexion

Taking the Next Step in Your Self-Care Journey

Unlocking free prescription eligibility is just one part of managing lymphoedema effectively. It’s about building a toolkit of resources, knowledge, and support that helps you live well every day.

Start by checking if you qualify for free prescriptions. Apply for the necessary certificates. Reach out to your healthcare providers and local support groups. And remember, every step you take is a step towards better self-care and improved quality of life.

You deserve to have the best support possible, and understanding your prescription options is a powerful way to get there. Keep pushing forward—you’re not alone on this journey.

Yearly Round-UP 2023

This year marked the tenth anniversary of the L-W-O Community, and what a remarkable decade it has been! As a survivor of breast cancer who is also living with lymphoedema, the need to comprehend this condition and acquire coping mechanisms was formidable. Much like many of us who have been diagnosed with lymphoedema, I was initially overwhelmed.

Reading, researching, writing, and, most importantly, listening to others with lymphoedema for over a decade have been essential to my coping strategy.

The countless hours I have devoted since the inception of "lymph-what-oedema" to the development of a patient organisation with a worldwide presence have been amazing. Without our followers, members, and supporters, the transformation and expansion into the L-W-O Community would not have been possible. Although the past decade has been filled with many experiences and highlights, 2023 has surpassed all expectations.

This newsletter will feature an account of our accomplishments for the current year, as well as an acknowledgement of the individuals who have provided support for me personally and the L-W-O Community.

I continue to work with and write for Mary Fickling and the PhysioPod UK Ltd News Magazine, and I am always astonished by her energy and excitement for helping others. We have worked together on World Lymphoedema Day which is held on March 6th and Lymphoedema Awareness Week for the past three years. Our theme this year was the importance of Self/Simple Lymphatic Drainage in lymphoedema management and the rising influence of the patient voice. Mary and I are both passionate about giving those who live with lymphoedema a voice. This year’s aim is to strengthen the goals we set last year. We are firm believers that self-care is essential for improving lymphatic health. We have both devoted considerable efforts to enhancing the accessibility of our work through the incorporation of closed captions, subtitles, and additional visual aids. At an individual level, this necessitated dedicating a substantial amount of effort to verifying the accessibility of the L-W-O Community website. 

Juzo UK

A long-overdue thank you and apologies to Juzo UK's Ross Summers. At the October 2022 BLS Conference, Ross and I discussed hand compression. His exhibit had compression gloves that I tried on. Ross generously sent me the classic seamless compression glove to test at home, and I volunteered to write a brief review. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to keep my word. However, finally, I have written a short piece, and I am delighted to say I am still using the glove. For a decade, Adam Withey from Juzo UK has supported our community and provided individual support to group members. I appreciate this so much, and on behalf of my members, thank you, Adam.

European Patient Advocacy Group

I have been serving as a patient representative for the European Patient Advocacy Group on a volunteer basis since 2019. Our manifesto has had global success as a call to action to raise lymphoedema awareness in the UK and Europe. I attended a Zoom conference with European patient associations this year, and we were joined by Swedish Health Minister Acko Ankarberg Johannson. The Minister agreed to convey the manifesto and the associations' concerns to her colleagues at the Council of the EU on lymphoedema care and treatment. Sweden held the presidency. In addition, this year the group launched a new website, ‘putting compression under pressure’ which was presented at the ILF Conference in June by Eline Hoogstra from the Netherlands. I was thrilled to meet Eline in Nottingham in June for the ILF Conference; before that, our communication had been limited to email and Zoom.

International Lymphoedema Framework Conference

This year I was also invited to be a patient representative on the conference board for the 11th International Lymphoedema Framework (ILF) organised in collaboration with the Lymphoedema Network Wales. My friend Susie Murray has been instrumental in enabling this and providing me and L-W-O with support over the past decade. I was invited to attend the conference as a delegate, which spanned an incredible two days in June. The presentations in the main hall and side rooms provided me with a wealth of knowledge. Moreover, I had the opportunity to meet in person with a significant number of individuals with whom I had previously only interacted via social media. The patient day was a resounding success, and attendees were given the chance to pose questions to the speakers.

The British Lymphology Society

I have worked with the British Lymphology Society (BLS) for several years, writing occasionally for their quarterly magazine. We collaborated in 2021 to create videos for the BLS 'Every Body Can' campaign as part of a cooperative effort that aligned well with the L-W-O Community's philosophy of encouraging movement as opposed to exercise. I am forever conscious that while we have super fit members, we do have members with limited mobility, and we need to ensure they are included in every aspect of our information sharing, tips, and advice.

In 2022, I was delighted to be asked to work with the BLS alongside their trustees and Matt Hazledine from Lymphoedema United. Understanding the Patient Agenda was presented to attendees at the conference in October 2022 via five workshops. This work was a tremendous success, and we agreed after the conference to expand on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

The theme for 2023 is ‘The Importance of Patient Involvement in Shaping NHS Services’. We created two patient fact sheets, which were presented in two speed sessions at this year's conference. This year, we were delighted to welcome the Lymphoedema Support Network to the BLS Patient Project team 23/24. By working with patient associations, BLS aims to encourage lymphoedema clinicians to engage with patients when shaping service development. While I will always advocate on behalf of those of us who live with lymphoedema, working with the BLS has given me a better appreciation of the pressures many of our lymphoedema practitioners are under.

Tips Before You Attend Your First Appointment

This year's BLS conference was a tremendous success, and Matt Hazledine and I shared an exhibition stand. This allowed us to converse with a lot of the delegates, and the five sessions we conducted in 2022 have generated an abundance of positive comments. There were two highlights for me. The first was hearing Stanford University Professor Stan Rockson discuss the HEAL trial.

The second highlight was meeting Beverley de Valois, Acupuncturist, Author, Researcher, Lecturer, Scar Work Therapist. Beverley and I talked about the false belief that many patients have regarding the use of acupuncture being contraindicated for people with lymphoedema. Another myth. If you avoid your affected area, then acupuncture is beneficial. I had tried to book into the sessions Beverley was holding, but they were oversubscribed. During our conversation, Beverley cordially extended an invitation for me to attend the final session of the day. As soon as I underwent ear acupuncture, I felt an immense sense of relaxation. Beverley has written an article for the next News and Views, and I was happy to contribute a couple of paragraphs on my experience.

You Are Not Alone

Matt Hazledine contacted me in late 2022 to ask if I would be interested in writing a chapter for a new book he was compiling with Amy Rivera, who is a patient advocate from the United States. Of course, I agreed. Thirty-four lymphoedema patients from fourteen different countries joined Amy and Matt in demonstrating to readers that living a full life with lymphedema is possible. Each contributor's story began with their national flag and a quote. My quote...

“I believe you can accomplish whatever you feel capable of.”

Contributors were asked for their top advice after each chapter. My suggestion:

“Learn to understand yourself and what works for you.”

Physical and emotional health might be negatively affected by lymphoedema, but this book, "You are Not Alone," demonstrates that despite the lack of understanding of lymphoedema in our different healthcare systems, we have all learned to advocate for ourselves as individuals.

L-W-O Community

We are in a unique position to describe what it is like to live with lymphoedema, including the daily routines and constant need for self-care. Our focus has been on lymphatic health, self-care, the patient voice, and ensuring that our voices are heard; community engagement has been of equal importance. I am proud that we have been able to convey the idea that outcomes may differ among individuals and that what is successful for one person does not necessarily apply to another.

L-W-O’s achievements would be unattainable in the absence of our members, followers, and supporters. They are the reason I continue to advocate for the amplification of their voices, and I feel that our voices will not be heard if we do not work together as a community. I thank all the above for their continued support, and I look forward to working with some of you in 2024.

My personal gratitude goes to our two support group moderators, Sue Sanders and Jackie Wingate, who welcome and support new members. The time they devote to our community frees me up to work in the background to spread our message: Lymphoedema exists; we exist.

On a personal level, it’s been a tough year with several health issues, including a serious sight problem that was thankfully resolved, plus two stays in the hospital and an operation on my sphenoid sinus. We are forever grateful for having a large family. One granddaughter got married, two more grandchildren passed their driving test, two are enjoying university life, one has become a PCSO, and two are in retail management. The two youngest are happy and content, and I love seeing our two great-grandchildren. Importantly, I have the support of my ever-patient husband, who has had to do a lot more chauffeuring this year. My main concern is how I will continue to support the L-W-O Community financially. In the early years, it cost £250 per year to run, but this year our costs have skyrocketed to £1500, with me footing 25% of our costs. So, if you like what the L-W-O Community accomplishes for you, please support us. No amount is too small. You may either donate through our GOFUNDME page or sign up for a once-a-year membership to help me continue to raise the voices of individuals affected by lymphoedema.

GOFUNDME

ONCE A YEAR SUBSCRIPTION

All that we have achieved

Our Christmas Theme

What an incredible year 2022 has been for L-W-O Community (L-W-O). As we reached our ninth year, we have had many new experiences and opportunities. L-W-O has had a productive and incredibly positive year where we have achieved so much, and I am grateful to our support group members and those who follow us on other social media platforms.

Support Group

I want to thank Sue Sanders and Jackie Wingate, our two Facebook moderators, who have added and welcomed new members. We are fortunate, as a group, that we have very few problems, but Sue and Jackie do a wonderful job in supporting and keeping our members safe. Giving L-W-O their valuable time and support leaves me free to pursue projects that will benefit us all. Both have agreed to stay on as moderators in 2023 so thank you to both.

This year I have used more targeted questions to encourage member engagement. We must amplify the patient voice and give them a platform to voice their thoughts and concerns. There were clear messages.

· We are asking for a holistic approach to our treatment plans

· We ask that you treat us as individuals, we are all different

· Explain why wearing compression or a certain management techniques work

Our members become extremely upset when their treatments plans do not explain properly why they should wear compression, it isn’t good enough to simply say, “it will reduce your swelling”; they want to know how it will reduce their swelling. This applies to every aspect of their treatment; if HCP’s take the time to explain correctly, their patients are more likely to comply with their treatment plans. The following question provided the most comprehensive answer and leaves no room for doubt as to what our members want.

Question: "Is it necessary for Lymphoedema Practitioners to explain the lymphatic system to their patients?"

Answer: Yes… 100 percent

I have never had a 100 percent answer in nine years of running polls.

Join our support group

Our website

The website continues to grow and this year I have written or rewritten several new webpages, including Breast Cancer Related Lymphoedema (BCRL), Head and Neck Cancer related lymphoedema (HNL), and ‘Tattoo or not to Tattoo’. The website is an ongoing project and does take a lot of time and research.

For those who follow L-W-O Community, you will know, I strive to make our website and social media accessible to all. I know how difficult websites and social media can be if you are a person with vision impairment or low vision or are on the autism spectrum. However, there are still organisations whose content isn’t mobile friendly. Why is this important? Because mobile devices are the only access that some people have to the internet. Switching to Camel Hash Tags and writing Alt text has become a mammoth task, and we won’t always get it right, but we are trying to make a difference. Wouldn’t it be great if, in 2023 the Lymphoedema Community could lead the way to make sure all our content was accessible?

Working with Mary

I have written fifteen articles for the PhysioPod Newsmagazine this year and working with Mary Fickling has been fun. I have learned so much from her analytical brain, and creative working style which is unique to her. Most of all, I appreciate her generosity of time which is priceless. The topics I have written about include Breast Cancer Related Lymphoedema (BCRL), the difficulties of buying clothing, footwear, and underwear for those of us who live with lymphoedema. Plus, many more articles which you will find on my dedicated page on the PhysioPod website. Between Mary and I, we have created a Call to Action. We ran two successful campaigns the first for World Lymphoedema Day (WLD) 6th March 2022, covering ‘Lymphoedema Top to Toe’. Thank you also to the following healthcare professionals who also wrote articles or voiced videos for our World Lymphoedema day.

Our second successful campaign was or Selfcare week 14th – 20th November 2022, putting our spin on ‘Exercise for Life’. Both Mary and I are passionate about giving patients a voice and encouraging patient advocacy. I produced five videos, four from our members who told us how the keep moving and a general video on the routines we live with every day.

Jane Wigg

Sharing our passion to support both patients and healthcare professionals is Jane Wigg, RGN MSc and Lymphoedema Clinical Expert. Our working partnership has been a tremendous success and replaying the video’s again this week; I am surprised at the areas we have covered. How does it work? L-W-O Community support group members ask the questions; Jane answers the questions and Mary produces and designs the videos. The videos are easy to watch, understand and great to listen to with voiceovers. To provide easy access to the videos I have published a ‘Dear Jane’ webpage showing all the videos in one place with an easy-to-view format. A huge thank you to Jane for all the time you have given us in your busy life.

I am absolutely chuffed that the 'Dear Jane' videos have been added to the patient care page of the Lymphoedema Training Academy's, LTA global website.

In 2023 I have three new questions lined-up, but I am sure support group members will provide many more.

The British Lymphology Society

As I have written previously as a patient advocate, I feel privileged to be a member of the British Lymphology Society (BLS). In 2021 we worked on a joint initiative to produce videos for the BLS ‘Every Body Can’ campaign, fitting nicely into L-W-O Community ethos of promoting movement rather than exercise. I am forever conscious while we have super fit members. We also have limited mobility members, and we need to ensure they are included in every aspect of our information sharing, tips, and advice.

One of this year’s highlights was being asked by BLS together with Matt Hazledine from Lymph United, to present five workshops on ‘Understanding the Patient Agenda’. As someone who lives with lymphoedema, attending the BLS conference has increased my knowledge of lymphoedema and the lymphatic system and allowed me to pass on to my members and the wider community my learning experiences. I have long advocated raising the power of the patient voice and fervently believe in community engagement. Therefore, to be invited to co-present with Matt, was a wonderful opportunity for us both to represent patient voices and acknowledge that patient voices are being heard.

While I may not be the most active member of the Patient Advocates for Lymphedema in Europe, I am still delighted to be a part of this group of dedicated advocates who work extremely hard for the benefit of all who live with lymphoedema in Europe. This year we took part in publishing the Manifest for World Lymphoedema Day on March 6th. The planning for next year’s WLD is underway, with exciting new events on the agenda. Patient Associations involved are, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, The Netherlands, us, and our friends at Lymphoedema Support Network representing the UK. Apologies if I have missed anyone.

Next year is the International Lymphoedema Framework conference in Nottingham from the 13th-15th June 2023 and I am delighted that I have been invited to be part of the patient stakeholder day on the 15th. Planning is in the at early stages, and I will keep you updated in due course.

Christmas Theme

I put a lot of thought into the Christmas topic this year: mental health. I speak with a lot of people who struggle with day-to-day issues that are made worse by the fact that we have a long-term condition. So, establish lists, delegate, and don't be scared to say NO, is our suggestion. Do take the time to check out our videos on our YouTube channel

Finances

I absolutely hate talking about finances or having to ask people to support L-W-O Community financially. Our financial situation remains difficult, not helped by the fact that social media is considered free for users. Reaching the level we have costs money, often out of my pocket. In a recent campaign five members donated £95.00 and I am extremely grateful to these members. We have two members who make monthly donations which go towards our monthly costs to cover accounting and printing, and I thank them for supporting us. However, we have a membership on support group of 1300 and overall following of 4,500. My sister-in-law has so far raised £100.00 since August, simply by asking the people she knows for £1.00 and running small tabletop sales in her local community rooms. I realise that times are very tough, but please support us either by subscribing by clicking on the poster to a once-a-year subscription or donate via the L-W-O Community GoFundMe page.

On a Personal Level

Unfortunately, this year both myself and my family have had some serious health issues and there have been times when I have had to step back. During Covid as we were in isolation for two years this meant that I kept my head busy with all things L-W-O. My way of dealing with life at that time and staying sane. I took on far too much, and now that life has returned to normal, there is so much more to do, as they say, ‘places to go and people to see’. Therefore, finding a balance was difficult, especially as I had to start saying no to some of the projects I was asked to get involved with. Rediscovering the word ‘NO’ has created balance in my life and has had an empowering effect on my mental health and I am in a good place, looking forward to Christmas and the New Year.

To our members, our followers and all those that have supported us with their time and kind words of encouragement, thank you. You are why I continue pushing to raise the #PatientVoice and push for #CommunityEngagment. Gaynor