10 signatures reached
To: NHS Business Services Authority & Central Government
Help Stop 200% Penalty Fines From NHS Business Services
Agree to remind holders of NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate holders when their certificates are due to expire.
Enforce reasonable and fair penalties where necessary.
Enforce reasonable and fair penalties where necessary.
Why is this important?
Holders of NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificates are disadvantaged by low incomes and sometimes by medical conditions. This might make keeping track of the certificates expiry date difficult and treatment may be unknowingly accessed when the certificate has recently expired.
The current system enforced by the NHS Business Services Authority targets vulnerable people in various ways.
Firstly they do not send any reminders when the certificate is due to expire - can you imagine if insurers took the same approach!
Secondly if your card has expired and you receive medical treatment, even though you might still meet the criteria to be eligible for free treatment you will still be fined. I found this out first hand.
Thirdly this fine is approximately 200% of the cost of the medical treatment. I offered to pay the cost of treatment but that wasn't enough, the NHS are demanding a 200% fine - how is this fair?
Lastly when you are told of the fine the letter tells you that if you still met the exemption criteria to call them. I tried this and when you call they reprimand you for the certificate expiring and are not interested that you were still exempt.
If the financial industry worked in this way the ombudsman and or government would take action to resolve this. The NHS is actively discriminating against vulnerable people and making their situation worse. How can this be legal? It certainly isn't ethical and I want to start this campaign to protect others who find themselves in this situation.
Please sign and demand a fair and just situation for vulnerable people.
The current system enforced by the NHS Business Services Authority targets vulnerable people in various ways.
Firstly they do not send any reminders when the certificate is due to expire - can you imagine if insurers took the same approach!
Secondly if your card has expired and you receive medical treatment, even though you might still meet the criteria to be eligible for free treatment you will still be fined. I found this out first hand.
Thirdly this fine is approximately 200% of the cost of the medical treatment. I offered to pay the cost of treatment but that wasn't enough, the NHS are demanding a 200% fine - how is this fair?
Lastly when you are told of the fine the letter tells you that if you still met the exemption criteria to call them. I tried this and when you call they reprimand you for the certificate expiring and are not interested that you were still exempt.
If the financial industry worked in this way the ombudsman and or government would take action to resolve this. The NHS is actively discriminating against vulnerable people and making their situation worse. How can this be legal? It certainly isn't ethical and I want to start this campaign to protect others who find themselves in this situation.
Please sign and demand a fair and just situation for vulnerable people.
