FIL stuck in EU country and his prescriptions

[ScaredandUnderconfident]

Fil doesn't want to go back to the UK as he's recently widowed and it would mean him being all alone in his house at this time of stay at home.

So he's had one prescription from his UK GP to renew his medicines. His nephew picked them up from the UK pharmacist and sent the drugs over in the post.

The same UK GP is saying he can't give another prescription. It's the rules apparently. He hasn't elaborated.

Does anyone know what rules these are?

I thought you could just get prescriptions from your GP no bother.

I think the rules are that the GP can’t prescribe medication for someone not living in the U.K. FIL needs to find a GP where he is living. There’s no way around this.

The link you posted refers to what you can do when you already have a prescription. From what you've said, I take it he doesn't actually have a prescription and wants the doctor in the UK to issue one? Is it a standard repeat prescription he has?

So what are the cross-border prescriptions for? Link in my original post.

Yes. Standard repeat prescription.

I think it would be wise to register with a GP in the country he's living in if he's not coming back really. He might need a GP at some point. It just makes sense. Is he going to hop on a plane for a meds review?

I don't think you are allowed to post prescription drugs, so that might be the reason.

Some medicines require a check periodically even if they are on repeat prescription so it may be that that needs doing.

Right ho. I'll look into his getting a GP appointment here.

He's not staying permanently. Just until things calm down.

There is a difference between a doctor being allowed to prescribe, and being willing to prescribe. And the repeat prescription system is designed for the use of UK residents - if the doctor knows that the person is not resident, it could be considered highly unsafe to prescribe medication for someone they cannot see and cannot supervise.

Also, if someone has been or intends to be outside the UK for three months or more, they are actually only entitled to sufficient medication to enable them to travel to the destination and find an alternative source of the medication in the place they are resident. That is why you can get a "top up" or early prescription filling if you go on holiday, but these provisions are not intended for people taking up residence abroad.

GP's are not allowed to prescribe NHS medications if they know or believe that someone is no longer resident in the UK.

You're not allowed to post medication so he must have not declared it properly.

He could try taking his medication packet and previous prescription to a pharmacy and explain he's stuck abroad. They might give him enough to last his trip/ until he can reasonably get to a doctor.

Take both to a doctor and ask for a repeat. I've never had an issue doing this - they might even do it without an appointment at the moment.

It would help if you said which country he is in. Here in Catalonia, a lot of pharmacists will dispense common drugs if you produce the empty packet. You will have to pay full price but if it's a common drug it will be cheap. Otherwise you can still use an EHIC card at a doctor's to get a prescription. Just be aware that some gps are private and charge a lot to tourists.

Yes, you aren't allowed to post medication and technically the GP was going against guidelines as they cannot (for insurance purposes) provide medical care to someone who is not in the Country.

He probably won't be able to get a GP unless he is a resident. Where is he staying?

We’ve been posting prescription drugs to the ILs who have a 2nd home abroad they were at when lockdown hit that country.

Perhaps if you call it a 2nd home and make it clear the UK residence is maintained it will be ok?

Doctors have been v understanding as MIL is immunicompromised and their country has fared much better than the UK. Consultant told them if they can stay put and avoid being on a plane then that was absolutely the best option. They’re hoping to come back in July.

A lot of prescription medications need monitoring (bloods, blood pressure, heart rate, ECG etc). It would be dangerous to prescribe for someone without this and puts the clinician liable if anything happens. No GP would risk a patient or themselves to do this.

Well, is he or isn't resident in the UK? I'm sure he still is a UK resident.

I mean, he wants to return to the UK and will do when Covid-19 has subsided. This isn't his home with us. He was here visiting when all the broo ha ha kicked in and decided to stay.

Sorry to raise a different issue here but is he covered for medical issues in the EU? Travel insurance is invalidated at the moment due to FCO guidance. I had some friends who were isolating in France who had to make a mad dash home as the EHIC isn't sufficient medical cover and their insurance advised they were no longer covered.

You can't get a prescription when you've been gone for four months. I had this last year when I went travelling.

yep, rules have been tightened up and people out of the country for more than 3 months get deregistered. Doesn't happen in practice unless you try for GP help, but this is what is happening here.

NHS is residence based, that means living in the UK. I appreciate he hasn't gone for good but it still counts. Sorry for his situation but as someone else points out, if he doesn't have travel insurance either he is only on EHIC cover and that is limited. He needs to return or sort out cover and healthcare where he is.

So he's staying with you? Call your GP and ask them.

He's got travel insurance. We never ever travel without it.

wisely so - but is it still valid? If it was single trip he has stayed longer than planned. If it is annual insurance they have a limit on how long each stay can be. And as someone else mentioned, with everywhere on a 'no non-essential travel' what is the situation?

I hope the answer is 'all well' to all of these.