Pregnant women are entitled to free medication, but without a maternity exemption certificate they face bills of hundreds of pounds
Stella Buller was recovering from the birth of her first child when the NHS letter arrived. It warned her that she could face fines and charges of up to £435 for claiming four free prescriptions during her pregnancy.
Buller, 29, like all pregnant women in England, should have been exempt from prescription charges until 12 months after she gave birth. But she was never issued with a maternity exemption certificate and has now been told that the oversight makes her ineligible for free medication. She has been given three months to pay the cost of the prescriptions she collected during her pregnancy, or face three-figure penalty surcharges.
