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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fed up of doctors doing this

158 replies

Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 20:57

I have a couple of long term medical conditions and I get items on a repeat prescription. Ever 6 months I have to make an appointment for a review and they are reissued. All good.
However a couple of times now an item has been removed from my repeat without consultation. It is a bath additive for a skin condition I have.
The last time it happened I queried it and they put it back on.
Maybe the rules have changed and I can no longer get this on prescription. (NHS under pressure etc etc).
However I still think that if they are going to remove it they should consult with me first to check how severe my symptoms are.
AIBU

OP posts:
Original poster
Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 20:59

Incidentally they removed two other items also without consultation. Both of these items are available otc fairly cheaply so I let that go. I also don't need them every month.

OP posts:
NotStoppedAllDay · 02/02/2017 21:02

My DD was talking about this

She's a doc receptionist/secretary. She takes things off.... hundreds at the practice so they never consult the patient either, too many of them and there's no time

It's to save money,That's all

anyname123 · 02/02/2017 21:05

I think if it's Oilatum or similar you are BU as yu can buy it otc, we all need to chip in and do our bit

seriouslyenoughalready · 02/02/2017 21:07

@ notstoppedallday - the receptionist takes items off prescriptions?!!

ipswichwitch · 02/02/2017 21:08

I've had the opposite issue. My gp added paracetamol to my repeat prescription. I've never asked for it, it was never mentioned at any appointment. I'd never want it on prescription since I can just get it for 19p a box at Aldi or whatever, and save the nhs a bit (and myself since I pay for prescriptions on a pre-pay certificate), but it does sod all for my pain anyway. I keep asking for it to be taken off, then a couple of months later it goes back on again Hmm

sotiredbutworthit · 02/02/2017 21:09

Seriously

I thought that too!!!

AnyFucker · 02/02/2017 21:09

Buy it from the chemist instead

Stuff taken off prescription is because you can buy it over the counter

Do you get free prescriptions ?

NotStoppedAllDay · 02/02/2017 21:10

Yes they have

She does both roles but yes, prescriptions are reviewed. Obviously it's only the otc stuff!

NotStoppedAllDay · 02/02/2017 21:11

Paracetamol is as cheap as 16p.... why let the NHS spend £7-£8 on it?

Rumtopf · 02/02/2017 21:23

It's very frustrating when it's prescription only controlled medication!
I'm having to waste a Dr's appt tomorrow just so I can go in and ask for my painkiller prescription to be renewed. I use one box a year so they took them off repeat.

tiredofhavingtothinkofnewnames · 02/02/2017 21:30

My fiend used to get oilatum on free prescription for 1 of her children as she used it to wash her cashmere jumpers in.

Just saying.

CantChoose · 02/02/2017 21:33

In my area we've been advised no longer to prescribe bath additives, we've been told they're expensive but ineffective. You're supposed to receive a letter from the local medicines management team when they take it off. It's not actually doctors removing them.
If a patient gets annoyed with me even though it's not my fault I represcribe them but warn them it will probably be taken off again.
This is regional but may well be what happened.

Bunnyfuller · 02/02/2017 21:34

I think they're doing this a lot now, to save money. Our docs won't prescribe anything you can buy yourself, regardless of the price.

There's so many repeats just go on forever and are wasted, I kind of get it. Greedy, medical exemption me a bit gutted tho, as can't get hayfever meds for free any more (thank you Poundland/Aldi!)

Sirzy · 02/02/2017 21:34

If it's a prescription only medicine then they should at least phone to explain and discuss alternatives.

I have had an issue with the Gp changing ds inhaler with no consultation - from a very strong one prescribed by a consultant (which the gp had happily prescribed for months before) to a low dose not as effective for ds inhaler

Original poster
Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 21:35

It is similar to Oilatum and yes I could buy it for 10 quid a bottle on top of the £20 per month we pay for our prepayment certificates.
The other removed items are fine and I am happy to buy the moisturizer as it last ages as the area concerned us small but the bath additive only lasts 4 weeks.

OP posts:
Oldraver · 02/02/2017 21:36

I had my steroid cream taken off as I hadn't ordered one in a while...this was because the GP had given me such a big tube and I try to use it sparingly it lasted ages...I just buy it OTC now as you can get a titchy tube.

My GP also tried to insist I had my Loratidene on prescription..he laughed when I said I would rather buy it as its not very expensive

Sweets101 · 02/02/2017 21:37

Cant Why do you represcribe it just because someone gets annoyed with you? Do you think it's wrong they've been removed in the first place?

Original poster
Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 21:38

My Dd. Has eczema and they haven't removed hers though.

OP posts:
Sweets101 · 02/02/2017 21:39

10 quid for 4 weeks doesn't sound a lot tbh

EarlGreyT · 02/02/2017 21:39

I'm having to waste a Dr's appt tomorrow just so I can go in and ask for my painkiller prescription to be renewed. I use one box a year so they took them off repeat.

"They" may not have taken them off repeat. If repeat medications aren't requested for some time, the computer automatically takes them off repeat and moves them into past drugs.

Sweets101 · 02/02/2017 21:40

Your DD is a child.

thetreesarebare · 02/02/2017 21:40

Just ask your pharmacist for their own brand product & buy it if you can get it over the counter. Saves the nhs a bleeding fortune.

Sweets101 · 02/02/2017 21:40

Presumably

Original poster
Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 21:40

I think the problem could be because I haven't requested a steroid cream for a while. This is because I was prescribed a huge tube and I only use a tiny bit.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 21:44

My reply was to cantchoose who said bath additives are no longer prescribed.
When I was diagnosed I was told that was all I could use.
Guess I nay just have to buy it myself and cancel prepayment as it's not really worth it for 1 regular item.

OP posts: