was the doctor unreasonable to make me pay???

[annoyeddotcom]

i'm married, 2 kids and had a split condom on sun night. called doctors on monday wouldn't see me for the emergency pill. told to ring today and spoke to the nurse who called thro to doctor who apparently shouted at her for interrupting him and he wouldn't see me so have ended up having to pay £27.50 in boots for the emergency pill.

absolutely ashamed, having to pour out my sexual accident to a 20 something pharmacist- MAN- who seemed as embaressed as me!

Please tell me I am not bu!!!!!!

Ring NHS Direct we have a list of chemists and places who do it for free, such as family planning clinics.

YABU to have explained your need for an emergency appt with the nurse/GP.

It would have taken 2 mins, and you are entitled to this appointment. I can't believe all the people who said YABU.

The MAP should be freely available. Just because it's now available over the counter for £20+ doesn't mean you're not entitled to see your GP/nurse for a prescription!

YANBU

Atm I don't have £27.50. I checked my bank a/c earlier and I can get £10 max out so if I'd been in your position and the doctor had refused to see me then I would have had no choice but to risk an unwanted pregnancy. I don't pay for prescriptions. My credit card is maxed out atm as well so that wouldn't have been an alternative.

When I needed the MAP (due to a condom slipping off) I made an appointment to see my GP. I was not made to feel that I was wasting the GPs time at all. I did have to explain I had had sex and the condom came off but I could cope with that.

Went to pick up the prescription at the dispensary and had got out my purse to pay for it and was told it was emergency contraception and so was free. Was very relieved tbh.

I really don't see why the OP should have had to pay for the MAP when it can be prescribed free of charge.

I would change my GP if he treated me like that!

Why couldn't he have just written out the prescription and left it with the receptionist or nurse for you to pick up?

I think your GP sounds very unprofessional. He was neither polite nor communicated facts well. If he didn't wish to provide any advice or medication he should be clear about that.

I don't see any advantage in charging people for emergency contraception. I do see an advantage in a private consultation regarding your need for it and advice on making it effective and avoiding using again.

You were ashamed at having to buy the MAP?? Do you order your tampons online???

Christ alive...

Tethersend, that happened to a friend of mine. She took the MAP too soon - you have to take it at least 12 hours after the intercourse, and the doctor didn't specify.

Not sure why more embarrassing to discuss MAP with pharmacist - MAN - than male GP, though.

I would have gone straight to the pharmacy (a couple of towns away!), too, TBH and not even bothered the doctor.

However, I think YANBU - many people, especially young people, are not in a position to suddenly find nearly £30 or travel to the next town to avoid being overheard at the pharmacy.

yanbu.

It shouldn't be so expensive, but I am confused as to why you are ashamed and why you are explaining your sex life.

When we had it, DH just picked it up when he went to get the paper/bread for brekkie. No questions.

I had to do this many moons ago. I was ok paying for it and did not have to go into my sexual history. However, the local pharmacy was run by my landlord .

So, yes, YABU.

YANBU - the NHS is there to provide medical services in return for the tax we all contribute to it. Contraception, including emergency contraception, is one of those services and it is provided free to everyone. The reason for this is, as others have said, that the cost of a pregnancy would be much higher to the NHS than the MAP. Plus no one should be discouraged from using contracetion because of the cost. Your GP should have written you a prescrition and I cannot understand why people think this unreasonable.

YANBU

Surely if the op wishes to see her gp than it's her decision and should be granted. The gp sounds very unprofessional and very unreasonable to refuse an appointment over the phone without any further information, i.e. the breast cancer that was mentioned by the op. If I had any link to breast cancer I would want to be discussing it with my gp before taking the map, I can't understand why others think this would be time-wasting.

Next time u go to doctors, ask for a prescription just in case you need it again and explain the difficulties you experienced.

Have posted already but will post again because I think the OP is getting a hard time.
I think this is a core part of GP care, which should include family planning / sexual health care. It is urgent, because use of the MAP is time sensitive. Therefore, a request for the MAP should be dealt with the same day - whether in an appt, over the phone or by appropriate nurse. Although it can be bought from a pharmacy, no reason why patients should be expected to do this - and nearly 30 quid is a lot of money.
BTW, I am a GP - so sort out MAP requests a fair bit. I don't think our surgery has ever turned anyone away in this position and would be horrified to learn that we had.

OP YADNBU. Can't believe all the people on here saying you can just go to the pharmacy and pay £30. Is that what most people do then - just go to the pharmacy unless they need something only available on prescription? £30 is extortionate! My DD has eczema and gets Oilatum on prescription - I could just pick it up in Boots for a tenner but her prescriptions are free and I can't afford £10 a bottle. You wouldn't have even needed to take up an appointment - the doctor could have spoken to you on the phone and left a script for you to pick up at reception.

But did the GP refuse to see OP at all, or was it only on Monday? Was she not told to ring on TUesday? Did the nurse INTERRUPT GP in the middle of a sensitive consultation?

It's easy to judge without hearing 2 sides of the story.

Little wonder the country is in such a financial mess when so many people expect the government to bail them out of every accident in life. If you had tripped and broken the heel of your best shoes which government department would you have looked to for a new pair?

You had an accident, pay for the pill yourself and look around for the cheapest source. Get a supply from the internet if you think this might happen again.

Taxpayers should only be expected to pay for genuine hardship. Its time to take away the subsidy of everyday living from people who can afford to look after themselves.

Yawn

this debates already been done.

cant you see its oldish, whats the point in trying to start it off again.

bored are ya???

obviously in the 15% the pill doesn't work for should really have taken it early, might as well have ripped up the £30 and threw it in the bin for all the worth it was!!!

yep- thought i would bring an end to the thread as it really irritated some people ! oh well, i always fancied a third, but three under 3 isn't ideal

Can you really tell 8 days later? Wow.