Moved to UK. Dr. refusing to prescribe meds

[SoDiana]

HI there,
I'm in a bit of a tizz. I have moved over from Ireland and have registered with a GP practice here. GP here, despite getting fax of my prescribed meds from my GP in Ireland, refuses point blank to prescribe my meds until he receives a detailed history from my GP in Ireland. Apparently they can't get through to my doctor today.
Basically, I'm on two anti-depressants and 2 other meds for other conditions. If he doesn't give me my meds today, I will be 5 days going cold turkey off my anti-depressants by Monday. This is potentially lethal for me as it has taken literally years to get my meds to a point where my condition is stable.
What in God's name can I do?
Urgent advice required!!!

[juneau]

Ring your doctor in Ireland yourself and tell him/her how urgent the problem is?

[MrsNuckyThompson]

This doesn't sound like a great situation. Probably not helpful to say it now, but didn't you stock up before you moved?

I think you need to seek an emergency appointment with your new GP TODAY and explain the situation. If they feel like they are unsure and want more detail I think they could at least prescribe you enough to get you through the next few days until the prescription materialises.

[IrianofWay]

Ring your GP in Ireland.

[SoDiana]

They refuse point blank to even issue meds for the weekend!!!
Is there a medical council here I can contact to issue a complaint to?
Frankly, this is ludicrous! What more does he want? Whatever perceived risk he thinks there may be in prescribing me my meds, the risk to my life is far greater if he leaves me going cold turkey without antidepressants for 5 days!!!! Fucking idiot.

[InfinitySeven]

Call your Irish GP and get them to fax across the summary as a matter of urgency. I had to do this, too, and after ringing round everyone eventually did get my prescription.

[SoDiana]

I rang my gp in Ireland yesterday. She faxed through my list of medications to the GP here. He STILL won't fucking prescribe them.
Now he wants a full history on my fucking condition.
Is he insane?
How can I get medicaiton prescribed for me over the weekend?
FFs, this is madness!

[SoDiana]

I wonder would a chemist here dispense on an Irish prescription?

[IrianofWay]

Ring her again then and explain the situation. Perhaps they could actually TALK to each other rather than issuing faxes.

[SoDiana]

Oh, I've called my GP too and asked her to ring this prick to speak with him - whether she can or not, I don't know - I was only speaking to the receptionist.
Jesus Christ - what a mess - I wonder if I rock up to A&E would they prescribe them for me for over the weekend?

[tywysogesgymraeg]

Ring your GP in Ireland again and ask him/her to phone the GP in UK.

I don't blame the GP - it's his career down the pan if he prescribes you something unsuitable or inappropriate.

Don't forget this is NHS! You might get more luck if you went to a private GP.

[tywysogesgymraeg]

Could someone in Ireland courrier you over the drugs if you get Irish GP to issue a prescription?

[SoDiana]

His career path will be down the fucking pan if I'm left without meds for the weekend!

[tywysogesgymraeg]

Or ask your GP if the drugs are available to buy in UK without a prescription? Would be expensive, but if that's your only option??

What would happen if you go cold turkey over the weekend?

[InfinitySeven]

He doesn't need a list of meds. He needs the summary.

If your Irish GP won't fax that over, then the British GP won't prescribe your meds, and A&E are unlikely too as well. It's stupid, but it's how it works.

I didn't even more across borders, just down a few counties.

[SoDiana]

Off prozac and Valdoxan cold turkey? Fuck knows! Probably another suicide attempt.

[InfinitySeven]

Why have you been cold turkey for 5 days already?

It's a lot harder to get anyone to do anything on a Friday, so you are going to have to be really persistent. Explain to the Irish receptionist again that the British GP needs a summary of your medical notes faxed. Ask for this to be done as a matter of urgency, as you cannot get medication without them.

Call your British GP and tell them to expect the fax, and ask them to call you when it's been looked at so you can get an emergency prescription. Make sure it is crystal clear that you need it today, or you'll have to go to A&E. They should expediate things then, because they'll get fined if you go to A&E.

If you don't manage to pull all that off, you'll need to present at A&E if you start feeling suicidal. They will be equally cautious to dispense medication without your summary notes, but they will give you some. Depending on hospital policy, it may require you to return for obs after a while, or you might be treated as an inpatient.

There is no way round this. Trust me, I tried, and I complained. The summary page is absolutely necessary.

[GoddessofSuburbia]

Ah, it could be because you're on Valdoxan. I've tried unsuccessfully to get it prescribed by my GP here and after much consultation with each other, they decided that felt unable to issue the prescription because it's a drug that is normally only prescribed by psychiatrists. They felt it was out of their sphere of experience to commence it without me having had a full psych assessment. Maybe that's why your new GP is asking for your full history?

[SoDiana]

I'm not commencing Valdoxan - I've been on it for 2 years!!!!

[dreamingbohemian]

I think all you can do is keep calling and begging people, though it's a good idea to see if someone back home can get a prescription filled and courier it over.

Or look at this:

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1011.aspx?CategoryID=73

For getting emergency medicines. You may actually be better off going to a pharmacy and saying you are just visiting, if you are really desperate, though I guess this is a bit dodgy.

[wannabestressfree]

Sorry but why be in a situation where you have no meds if it's this dire?

[InfinitySeven]

It doesn't matter that you are not commencing, GPs won't prescribe without the summary.

Do you have a psychiatrist? It might be worth contacting them too.

[Viviennemary]

I don't blame the GP either. They have to go by guidelines re prescriptions. I've heard in the past of people not being prescribed till they had seen a specialist in that field which can take ages.

[GoddessofSuburbia]

No, I understand what you're saying SoDiana; what I was getting at is that this is the first time that your new GP will be giving you the prescription, thus technically your new GP will be commencing you on the medication. A semantic difference, but it means that they will be unlikely to prescribe something without your full history....

As dreamingbohemian suggested, I'd be tempted to go to a big pharmacy, show them the packets, and say you're visiting the uk, have run out of your medication, and need an emergency supply. It might not work, it'll most likely cost you a fortune, and it's rather dodgy indeed, but it'll hopefully give you a few days leeway until your full history can be faxed across.

[SoDiana]

I had a months supply with me when I moved over. I tried to register with a GP, but couldn't do so with a bank letter, they needed either a bill or a letter from the employment agency. Since my rent includes bills, I have no bill in my name. So, I got a letter from the employment agency on Tuesday. I have been trying without success since Tuesday to get this fucking prescription.

[SoDiana]

I actually will try going to a different pharmacy to see.