To think the hospital should have prescribed calpol for my baby?

[PleaseLeaveVictor]

Ds3 is 9 months old and was admitted to hospital for the 2nd time on Monday in the last few weeks. He has a nasty chest infection, oral thrush, ear infection, tonsillitis and a viral wheeze. He was admitted via our walk in centre as his sats were very low.

Fortunately after nebulisers and inhalers he was ok and we were able to being him home with a prescription for thrush medicine and inhalers. We were told to give him dioralyte as he has diarreah and was a bit dehydrated and paracetamol for pain relief.

I had used the last of our calpol just before we had for to the doctors so I asked if we could have a prescription to get some more. I had spent over £10 on a taxi to the hospital as there were no transfers available and needed to spend the same amount to get back and I didn't have any spare money with me nor in the bank as I am broke until Friday.

I was told they wouldn't prescribe paracetamol or dioralyte as they were available to buy in boots (over £3 each) I did explain that I didn't have enough money and just got a shrug and a sigh. They eventually wrote a prescription for one sachet if dioralyte but not the paracetamol.

I could have used the taxi money to buy some but didn't want to take a sick baby on 4 buses in the dark, he was only wearing shorts and t shirt as we hasn't expected to be sent to hospital.

I called my mum and asked her to get me some medicine for him and luckily she could.

Should the doctor have prescribed pain reliefs and dioralyte?

If you buy Boots/supermarket own it's cheaper than Calpol.

I was prescribed a BIG bottle of calpol by the hospital when DS was a baby though. So they can do it.

I think they probably should have done, although perhaps they are cutting back on these types of prescriptions to save money.

If so it's wrong. Especially when it would have made such a difference to you!

Can you imagine what that would cost if they prescribed OTC meds like that for anyone who asks? There are few people who couldn't manage to pay for own brand calpol type meds, at a push.

Your gp will do you a prescription

I think it's fair enough that they don't tbh, I know loads of people who take the piss putting in repeat prescriptions for things like calpol etc that they should be buying themselves......that said in your case I really think they could have given a small bottle to see you through, after all if you really didn't have the money to get some and he had to be readmitted it would cost the NHS far more money.

YANBU btw

OTC meds shouldn't be prescribed, there is no need for a prescription. You looking for calpol for free because you had no money is different.
You can buy generic brands for far far cheaper, as are other infant and child paracetemol suspensions.
Glad your ds is on the mend though

YABU, better money management needed

you buy normal paracetomol and crush it and put it in juice. Saves a bomb.

The NHS can't pay for everything. You need to keep a stock of essentials and, as others have said,own brand is heaps cheaper

Do you weigh your crushed paracetamol Kal?

why on earth should calpol be given on prescription? I don't think the nhs should be footing the cost of medicing that can be bought over the counter. £3 here, £3 there, when people are being denied life-saving drugs because of cost... yabu.

I feel for you OP and wished that the hospital had given you a prescription for the calpol or similar. I don't believe that everyone would ask for such a "favour" at all. It is very difficult when your little ones are ill and the thought of you having to struggle on 4 buses to get to the hospital makes me feel really sad....no wonder you got a taxi. Hope your DS is feeling better soon, sounds like he's had a really rough time.

I think on this occasion they should have prescribed some paracetamol suspension for you. People are always posting on here about getting free calpol or equivalent under the pharmacy access scheme that runs in some areas and I often think that is wrong- PCTs shouldn't be funding OTC medicines that people can afford to pay for themselves. But I think your situation last night was a bit different.

Beertricks exactly, well put.

Kal, you recommend a normal 500mg tablet for adults to be crushed for a 9 month old baby when the correct dosage is 60-120 mg for a child that age? That's insanely dangerous, please don't recommend that to anyone else

Tesco sell paracetamol suspension for £1.50
for a massive bottle!

Yabu.

Horrible situation to be in, but I guess the hospital staff are constantly asked to do this and the bottom line is that if they did there would be even less money to go round. YABU to think the doctor SHOULD prescribe OTC medicines.

It didn't have to be calpol any brand of paracetamol/pain relief would have done the job. I just didn't have any or any access to any money at that time and poor ds would have spent the night in pain if my mum hadn't been able to get us some (although I would have knocked on neighbours doors etc before letting that happen)

He has been poorly for the last four weeks and the cost of paracetamol/Ibuprofin/cough medicine for 3 children adds up plus I wasn't expecting to spend £20+ on taxis so I don't think it's because I manage my money badly, it's just the end of the month when all the bills have gone out and there is nothing left.

pleaseleavevitor what a horrible few weeks you have had. I really hope things improve. Anyone would be struggling with that situation.

I think, considering the situation you were in the hospital were being a bit unreasonable.

It does shock me though that hospitals do prescribe calpol and neuyrofen for children in general. I now have four bottles sitting in my storeroom that ds1 was prescribed for his broken arm (from two separate ops). I couldn't help but wonder how much that cost the NHS (by the time you factor in the prescription costs), and reckon that most people do have children's analgesics already at home.

kal I think it is irresponsible to come on an Internet forum and suggest something like that without clarifying that huge care should be taken in the amount of parecetomol you use. In fact the parecetomol I have specifically states in BOLD BLOCKS that it is not for children under 6. Children's parecetomol is different strength and diluting adult tablets in juice is not going to make it any safer. Your advice could very easily lead to a person overdosing their child which is very dangerous and can do serious liver damage.

you can get calpol on script over there? god i so want to live in england!!!

plewaseleavevictor I think the hospital were being a bit U BUT they are under immense budgetary pressures atm.

I am so sorry your little one has been ill for so long.

When you next get paid I would get yourself to boots/wherever and get 2 of the MASSIVE bottles of painkiller (paracetamol and ibuprofen based). I buy them like that and it does save money in the long run.

Kal not only is what you're doing extremely dangerous and could kill a child, or an adult for that matter, it is also illegal. It is illegal to change/modify any medicine by crushing/liquidizing/diluting/chopping in half/anything else.
I think you should report your post before you give anyone else this ridiculous idea.