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Original poster

New doctors won’t prescribe my medication?

22 replies

abitworriedasyouwouldbe · 04/07/2021 19:34

Has anyone experienced this before? My new doctors (house move) won’t prescribe me the medication I’ve been on for years for mental health until I provide proof. I have no proof because I don’t get any paper print outs when I collect the medication. I don’t understand why my new doctors can’t see my medical history to see the medication I have. Unless it’s delayed maybe?

As it is now, they want me to email my last doctors and ask them to send me a copy of my medications. I feel like they won’t because I could just be anybody emailing and asking under my name.

Has anyone had a similar situation?

OP posts:
DragonTeeth · 04/07/2021 19:36

When I moved here from.iverswas I encountered the same and had to go cold gurkey off depression meds that apparently over here are only prescribed by a psych. That was fun. But obviously it was harder as my records were abroad. Anyway, just saying I feel your pain!

sparemonitor · 04/07/2021 19:38

What's the medication? It's not unusual for people to use the delay in notes transfer to try and get meds with a street value so we have to be very careful and confirm with precious GP.

BendingSpoons · 04/07/2021 19:38

It does seem to take a while for records to transfer for some reason. I would ask your old GP. If they are worried about emailing it to you, maybe they could send details to your new GP via post or email, as that would be an official address.

sparemonitor · 04/07/2021 19:39

It can take months for notes to come across.

iklboo · 04/07/2021 19:39

If you email with details anybody else wouldn't know - full name, DOB, last address, phone numbers, meds you were on they should be able to send you the info you need. Or phone them & ask for a callback and ask how long the records will take to send over.

RandomMess · 04/07/2021 19:39

If in the UK the surgery to surgery transfer of notes can help instantly - like send an email.

Get onto the practice manager at each place to sort getting your notes transferred urgently.

FrancesFlute · 04/07/2021 19:39

Is it prescribed by a GP or a consultant? If GP then get a copy of your GP summary from previous practice and take that along to new one. It can take a while for your records to come through when you register - is this what they mean?

Some drugs are 'blacklisted' over time (obviously no idea what yours is!) So it's the new GP who'd need to discuss with you of this was the case and what they would suggest as alternative.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 04/07/2021 19:40

Your records need to be transferred over from your old practice to your new one, and the summarised.

It can take a while im afraid.

DeathMetalMum · 04/07/2021 19:40

How far have you moved? What about contacting the pharmacy for the list? Most GP's will ask for some sort of paper copy.

DogsSausages · 04/07/2021 19:41

The new hp practice can email your old gp for your records ro be transferred. Speak to the practice nurse at the new surgery if they get difficult

FrancesFlute · 04/07/2021 19:41

Meant to say, I would phone previous GP and ask for this. You don't need a GP appt - ask receptionist who does it. I bet it will be actioned quicker than an email.

whineybing · 04/07/2021 19:45

The paper records can take months to arrive at your new surgery but your computer records should have transferred within a day or two via GP2GP but this can go wrong on occasion. When I worked at a surgery I have emailed or faxed a request to a patient's previous GP asking them to send a summary report to us so that we can continue a patient's medication.

Helenluvsrob · 04/07/2021 19:47

What’s the drug ?

Canigooutyet · 04/07/2021 19:50

Call the old practice when it's quiet you can be id checked over the phone. Emails can take days for a response. You can also email as long as you put in something like your nhs number, I used to email repeats and other things with the gp.

If you have the box from the last lot this should also be fine for new gp.

You can also register for the nhs app and a part of this includes your meds. Might have to use the old surgery details when you register.

If you have run out call 111 they can also help.

PurpleFadesToGreen · 04/07/2021 19:51

Can try downloading the NHS app, it has all my previous prescriptions going back 20 years and the ones on repeat.

Then show them that??

Nothappyland · 04/07/2021 19:55

Show them your empty/part empty boxes of your current medication. It is labelled for you. That should be a start. Otherwise if you ring the old GP and ask them what information they need from an email in order to release the list to you. I do find it odd that the new GP doesn’t just look at your Summary Care Record, or have you not got one? I’m a HCP and if I email GPs from my nhs email I can get access to my patient’s records (with the patient’s permission of course), so I think if you ring ahead, ask for the info they need and are able to give details then they should release it.

Terminallysleepdeprived · 04/07/2021 20:02

I had my new gp refuse to prescribe my asthma meds that are prescribed by my respiratory consultant because he didn't believe they were used to treat asthma. I had to Google to show him and that was with my records right in front of him

I also got kicked off a surgery list because I stood up to the gp who tried to prescribe my dd meds that she was allergic to. I wasn't rude, didn't shout but because I challenged him he accused me of being aggressive and without a witness (6 month old baby didn't count) they won

Some GPS are arseholes. Lots are amazing but the ones who aren't are hideous to deal with.

You should not have to contact your previous GP. That is what they have office staff for at your new GP.

Sorry you are having trouble op

sparemonitor · 04/07/2021 22:21

@abitworriedasyouwouldbe

hopefully now you understand why we have to be careful - but to summarise the advice you could:

  1. take your current labelled box of pills into the GP
  2. ask the pharmacist you use to print out a copy of what you take
  3. email or ring your old GP (or ask your new GP to do it but will be quicker if you do it)

benzodiazepines are red flag medicines for a new patient and I usually ring the last GP for new patients who are taking them regularly - not so much for other MH drugs.

Alternista · 04/07/2021 22:46

As someone else has said, if you download the NHS app your prescriptions should be listed.

shivawn · 05/07/2021 10:13

Strange. I work in Ireland not UK but if I need to check a patients prescription I just make a quick 1 minute call to their pharmacist or GP.

claralara42 · 05/07/2021 10:48

As it is now, they want me to email my last doctors and ask them to send me a copy of my medications. I feel like they won’t because I could just be anybody emailing and asking under my name

Youe have no idea if they will or not, but surely the very first thing to do is try it?

sparemonitor · 05/07/2021 21:52

If you can't produce a box, or the white side of your script, or a printout from the app, or the app on your phone - and if it's possibly a drug like benzodiazepines (I'm guessing) then that would raise suspicions so just get a copy from your last GP and it will be sorted.

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