Can 111 GP prescribe antibiotics over the phone?

[cliffdiver]

I'm concerned I have a kidney infection.

Waiting until 8pm to see if 7pm paracetamol has touched fever / pain before I call.

No, they usually ask you to attend your nearest out of hours Dr.

Bugger.

That's what I thought.

No, but if you have previous history if this condition and can convince an out of hours doc that you know what is wrong with you, they do sometimes prescribe ABs over the phone. I have experienced this, when I had cystitis (having had multiple infections before).

Highly unlikely, I've always had to go in and see someone.

Wouldn't you need to go to collect a script anyway?

Yes they can. I had a uti and i called 111 as it was a Sunday. The gp called me back and organised a prescription for antibiotics that I had to go and collect from a pharmacy.

I think it depends on the GP and your symptoms. I've had a three day course prescribed over the phone before, it was sent to the local pharmacy for me to pick up. GP said based on symptoms he was satisfied that it was a UTI, if symptoms got worse or it hasn't cleared up after the three days then I should attend the walk-in or see my own GP.

Yes they can.

For what it's worth my symptoms were lower back pain, shivers, frequent and painful trips to the toilet with an almost constant urge to go, and visible streaks of blood in my wee.

@englishdictionary there's a pharmacy in the local supermarket which is open until 10pm so DH can pick up a script.

Have 2 DDs In bed and no easy way of getting to the hospital OOH clinic, although I suppose could get a taxi if needed.

When I said 'No' I meant the call handler can't. My experience was exactly the same as tessiegirl's. The call handler got a doctor to call me back and he agreed to prescribe me ABs over the phone. My husband had to drive to the OOH clinic to pick the prescription up.

@DoomOnTheBroom I don't think it's a UTI as no pain in stomach / urination.

Symptoms are fever (39.2), chills, nausea and lower back pain.

If it were me on the phone and you have a fever and back pain I'd want to examine you, to check for sepsis and for other sources of infection that might present similarly eg septic discitis
(Doctor)

Babylon GPs can

Yes they can. I rang when I clearly had a UTI and they faxed a prescription to my nearest pharmacy (was a Sunday afternoon)

I've had a kidney infection with the symptoms you are describing but no urinary symptoms.

It took 4 days before a doctor diagnosed it because my symptoms weren't obviously kidney related.

A call to 111 has resulted in me being prescribed antibiotics by a GP, over the phone.

They can for a simple UTI, but will not and should not for a possible kidney infection. It sounds like you need an appointment.

Yep, they won’t do it over the phone if you have signs of kidney infection. You will also need to provide a urine sample.

I agree. If it's a clear case of it being almost certainly a UTI then I'd ask for over the phone ABs but if there's any doubt over what could be wrong then you're best off getting seen.

Waiting for a call back from GP.

Temp has reduced from 39.6 to 37.6 since paracetamol at 7pm.

Dull ache in back is still there though.

Update:

Spoke to GP over the phone at 10pm last night, she was hesitant to prescribe antibiotics as she said it sounded like norovirus (I actually had that last week, I knew it wasn't) but offered to call back in an hour to review if my back pain was still there.

I declined and saw GP today who confirmed kidney infection.

Hope you got treatment for your kidney infection and are feeling a bit better op.