Will my GP know whether I've collected a repeat prescription?

[NoName54321]

For the last year I've had a pre-paid prescription certificate for my 3 monthly medications. To save money I've been ordering them every 3 weeks, so I've now built up a bit of a supply, with the intention of buying a new certificate and ordering again once I get down to the last packet. I forgot about this plan and placed another order with the GP. Will they know if I just don't collect them, and order again in about 5 weeks time, when I buy a new certificate? The pharmacy is not connected to the GP surgery, it's a supermarket one.

No judging please - I've only done this because money is always tight and I wanted to get maximum value from the annual certificate!

I assume you mean ordering every 3 weeks instead of every 4 weeks? And not instead of every 3 months?

yes your gp can check but in reality would never unless we were worried about you, you came in with different symptoms or overuse gets flagged.

Yes that's what I meant. Thank you!

They won’t know, but the pharmacy might notice that your prescription has been ready and sat on their shelf for 5+ weeks. Maybe let the pharmacy know you won’t be collecting?

If they 're not collected in a certain amount of time, the pharmacy has to send them back. You would then need a new prescription to collect anything. I don't know if they report back to your GP. I don't know how many uncollected prescriptions they get or if it causes any problems.

This isn’t right, a prescription is valid for 6 months from the date it was signed of the start date (if there is one). Controlled drug prescriptions are valid for 28 days.

The pharmacy might question why you hadn’t collected it, but they should be able to dispense it

@NoName54321 Are you are getting meds you aren't entitled to? That's how I read it, if not please clarify

I don’t understand why you don’t want to collect it. How will that affect you ordering when you get the new certificate

I do the same.

I have monthly prescriptions, but don't need to use up in a month (think pain killers) so when I have a prepaid certificate I order on the dot, then have a break as I have plenty of what I need.

I just didn't know what the validity date was, so I said "a certain amount of time." We're not saying different things.

I do similar. If you time it well you can get 4 months of meds on a 3 month prescription, then take a month break before you have to pay again

Mumsnet will be outraged by this so will skew your responses. But it's normal, I do this all the time. GP has never questioned.

I get a three month card, use that time to stock up on my prescriptions, then repeat next year. You aren't getting any medication you won't use.

I think it’ll depend on how frequently your meds need review. So the repeats stop if a review is overdue. This is more salient with new meds that might need monitoring etc.

Don’t worry OP, you can always get the prescription cancelled at your nominated pharmacy if you really want.

Your doctor will know on their sytem if you are requesting more frequently as there may be a risk you could be overdosing your medications and putting yourself at risk.