NHS website crashes on the day cheaper HRT prescriptions are launched
An NHS website crashed on the day women were supposed to be able to use it to access cheaper hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
From today, women should have been able to get a prescription prepayment certificate which will last for a year – at the cost of £19.30.
But the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website, where the certificate was meant to be available, went down.
Welsh Labour MP Carolyn Harris tweeted: ‘The day has come women going through #menopause have been waiting for – the annual pre-payment certificate for #HRT launches…
‘But can anyone actually access the site? This has been so hard fought for by women and they can wait no longer.’
The NHSBSA has now apologised, promising that women will be able to backdate their certificate if they buy it later on.
A spokesperson explained: ‘If you need your HRT medicine before you buy the HRT PPC, ask your pharmacist for an FP57 receipt when you pay for your HRT medication. You will be able to get a refund from the pharmacy.’
The Government estimates the certificate will help 400,000 women save hundreds of pounds annually.
Women can get the certificate online – when the website is back up and running – or in some pharmacies and it can be used as many times as needed in the 12-month period.
The certificate includes access to eligible HRT items including patches, tablets, pessaries and gels and creams applied to the skin.
Around 15% of women aged 45-64 in England are currently prescribed HRT, according to Department of Health figures.
The cost-cutting drive could save someone up to £205 – with each prescription for HRT priced at £9.35 at the moment.
If a woman requires two types of hormones, this can be £18.70, and these prices need to be paid once a month, or every three months.
The NHSBSA's full comment:
We’re aware that some people are experiencing issues when trying to buy an HRT PPC this morning following the introduction of the new service.
We’re working to put a fix in place as soon as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience.
‘We can reassure people wanting to buy a certificate that if they aren’t able to buy one today, they will be able to backdate their certificate if they buy it at a later date.
‘If you need your HRT medicine before you buy the HRT PPC, ask your pharmacist for an FP57 receipt when you pay for your HRT medication. You will be able to get a refund from the pharmacy.
The HRT PPC can start from April 1 2023.
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