If you go private and then get a prescription...

[PeaceLoveAndCandy]

can you get that prescription transferred over to the GP so that is not as expensive?

Would depend what it is for really and whether it’s on the list of approved meds

Unfortunately not. Private practioners can't issue NHS prescriptions.

When I worked in a GP surgery we used to always get patients bringing in private scripts asking the GP to transfer it to an NHS one. The GP's always did it on the understanding that it was a 72 hour turnaround like any prescription request as most patients expected it to be done almost instantly which wasn't possible (private one needs to be scanned onto the notes and then sent to the GP for authorisation).

The private doctor can liaise with the Gp for "shared care". We pay for DDs private therapy plus psychiatrist- her psychiatrist wrote to the GP who now prescribes her ADHD medication.
I've also transferred a private dermatology prescription to the GP but admittedly that was for a drug that was very inexpensive.

You can ask your GP to issue an NHS prescription which they will probably do.
Dd had a private prescription but because the medication could only be issued by the hospital pharmacy we had to pay the private cost. So it depends.

I had a private prescription and was really worried how much I would have to pay. My NHS ones are free. £2.25 was the charge. Getting one changed by your GP can cost a lot more.

I've had private prescriptions swapped to NHS, just speak to your surgery. I've also had private prescriptions and paid for the medication - it actually worked out around £2, so much cheaper than paying for a prescription charge. Depends if you pay for prescriptions though

You’ll have to pay for the first one from the private script as the private doctor is the one prescribing it and is responsible for the consultation that led to that medication being prescribed. However, provided its a reasonable prescription you might be able to get your own GP to prescribe it next time and put it on your repeat.

I did that for with Soolantra for my rosacea.

Ahhh, I’m referring to the kind of “GP Online” service where you pay for a one off e-consultation about a single problem. Not ongoing private healthcare.

Private prescriptions are not always more expensive. I had one and the cost was£5. The pharmacist said that the drug was less than that, but the company had a £5 minimum charge policy.

You'll only get charged list price for the drugs on a private prescription so if they are cheaper than then £9 whatever a prescription is these days it's cheaper to stay private.

Thanks everyone. This would be for 13yo DD for melatonin and potentially adhd medication.

@PeaceLoveAndCandy

Thanks everyone. This would be for 13yo DD for melatonin and potentially adhd medication.

Most of these medications require an ESCA (essential shared care agreement) and the patient should be established on this medication (which is commenced by a consultant) prior to it being continued by the GP so in this case no, a GP wouldn't transfer this to an NHS prescription (as far as I am aware).

Once she is established on the medication then the consultant would write to the GP enclosing a signed ESCA for the GP to also sign and then the GP would be able to prescribe.

My son gets his ADHD medication (strattera) as joint care with a private psychiatrist and GP issuing the prescriptions.

We just pay for the annual consultations and the GP gets sent a letter.

When I had surgery privately I had to pay for the first lot of painkillers as they were prescribed by the private Dr, but the second lot I got from my GP surgery.

My GP wouldn't prescribe the melatonin for my son on the NHS.. which is annoying as I am a GP elsewhere and do for other people in these circumstances !! It is down to the prescriber...

It was initiated by a consultant by the way not me just wanting it for him !

@Twinkie01

You'll only get charged list price for the drugs on a private prescription so if they are cheaper than then £9 whatever a prescription is these days it's cheaper to stay private.

That’s not always true. Pharmacies can charge for the cost of the medication, plus a dispensing fee. This can cost more than an NHS prescription.