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AIBU?

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:

Report

Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 21:45

In her area.

OP posts:

thetreesarebare · 02/02/2017 21:45

Rum if you only need it once a yr it's not really a repeat prescription. Some painkillers are extremely addictive & should be reviewed regularly.

SheldonCRules · 02/02/2017 21:46

Isn't it easier to just buy it from the chemist, saves the nhs costs both in prescription and doctors time.

I buy ours and don't bother the doctor unless I need too.

All practices should stop prescribing things you can buy OTC.

LineysRun · 02/02/2017 21:47

My GP's surgery allows online requests for prescriptions, both repeat requests and custom requests. Or you can phone reception. If necessary, a duty doctor makes a very quick phone call to you to ask some questions. Mostly, you just pick it up at the pharmacy three days later.

It's very efficient, doesn't waste doctors' appointments, and leads to less waste of medicines.

I have shit health so really appreciate this service. Hope it rolls out generally.

thetreesarebare · 02/02/2017 21:48

Totally agree Sheldon.

LineysRun · 02/02/2017 21:48

OP My GP prescribes Balnuem Bath Oil to me, for psoriasis.

DoJo · 02/02/2017 21:54

Guess I nay just have to buy it myself and cancel prepayment as it's not really worth it for 1 regular item.

If it's £10 per month for the OTC bath stuff and you only have one other prescription then you would definitely be better off - £20 for prepayment vs £18.40 for the bath stuff and 1 script.

Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 21:55

I agree it the cost is less than the prescription charge but where does it end. My other medication is a tablet which is available otc in a similar form. However for the dosage I need I would be paying£30 for it every 4 weeks for a lower dose.

OP posts:

WayfaringStranger · 02/02/2017 21:56

I'm afraid that I agree OTC medication shouldn't be prescribed unless in truly exceptional circumstances.

Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 21:57

The ,£20 is for me and dh.
So at the minute ,I pay £10. This will now double to £20 or £18.40 without prepayment.

OP posts:

Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 22:00

I agree Sheldon that there is a cost saving to the NHS but no time saving. There really isn't much difference in signing a script with one or two items on.

OP posts:

BillyDaveysDaughter · 02/02/2017 22:04

I keep asking for one of my three repeat items to be removed from every monthly repeat, as I'm stockpiling the stuff and I simply don't need it (I've offered to bring it back but aparently it will just be destroyed anyway).

The pharmacy keep putting it back on, and when I eventually have a review the GP will tell me off for stockpiling.

madamginger · 02/02/2017 22:05

My CCG has stopped all bath emollients for adults, as well as bread, antihistamines, acute painkillers and vitamins.
You are expected to buy them, it is under something called a prescribing for clinical need policy.

CantChoose · 02/02/2017 22:08

sweets because it's not my fight. I didn't make the decision and I've explained that to them as well as why it's done but some (not most by any stretch) patients are vile to me if then don't get what they want. I have lost the will to argue, frankly.
OP, Not sure why your DD wasn't stopped if it's for the reason I've suggested. It might have only been applied to adults. I can't remember if it's just adults in my area tbh.
They're also stopping Aveeno creams in my area (more expensive, not proven to be better then alternatives) and switching brands of some inhalers. All done automatically. These things change all the time but there's always a pet project. But as I said, it should be accompanied by a letter sent to each patient. If you haven't had one best ask your gp - it could be as simple as a wrong button on the computer.

Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 22:10

Now that makes sense mad.
Billy on our repeats we have to tick the box to request an item. Thus avoiding stockpiling.

OP posts:

NapQueen · 02/02/2017 22:11

It frustrates me so so much when people in the chemist get bottles of calpol/boxes of painkillers etc on free prescription.

It's a pound! One single pound spent in pound land or similar.

madamginger · 02/02/2017 22:12

One of our local surgeries writes on the prescription to the pharmacy 'please tell patient we've changed their brand as per CCG policy', no letters at all to them, I spend my days telling them.
The latest two products are movicol switching to cosmocol and seretide inhalers changing to sirdupla as they are half the price.

Lorelei76 · 02/02/2017 22:13

Madam - bread?

Op sounds like a buying issue, they've not removed any items that are prescription only?

When you say £20 a month prepay you mean for 2 prepay certificates?

Mermaidinthesea · 02/02/2017 22:13

Yes I get this with my painkillers. I work full time in the NHS and need tramadol and co-codamol to keep moving as I have chronic arthritis and joint degeneration. I only take what I need to keep moving as I can't afford to be drowsy at work but on a few occasiona now I have just been cut off without consultation.
You can't just cut someone off tramadol, you have to be weaned off or you get terrible withdrawal and can't function.
Every now and then I wean myself off to see if I can cope without or reduce my dose for a while so they keep working at a low dose but to just cut me off is so cruel. They know what I do for a living.
The last time this happened I went to the doctors surgery and refused to leave until I had an explanation and evetually after a three hour wait a doctor came out with a repeat prescription, I was bloody furious. I'm not an addict, I can't actually get out of bed without them.

Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 22:15

I suspect can't that this is the work of one particular GP. He definitely was the one who removed items previously. Also refused to prescribe my medication as I was breastfeeding despite taking it all during pregnancy. I had terrible symptoms who the 1St weeks of dds life before seeing a different doctor who put it back on.

OP posts:

Mermaidinthesea · 02/02/2017 22:15

I pay for my prescriptiojns so it's not as if I'm getting them for free, it's £38 a month which I can ill afford. If I didn't need them that would be lovely.

madamginger · 02/02/2017 22:16

Lorelei celiacs can get gluten free bread on prescription, my CCG have now restricted this to under 18s only.

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Catlady1976 · 02/02/2017 22:17

Yes Lorelei the £20 is for me and dh. Sorry not clear in my post.

OP posts:

TheFairyCaravan · 02/02/2017 22:19

I get paracetamol on prescription because I take 8 a day and you can't buy it in the quantity that I need.

I have a skin condition, as yet unknown. My GP offered to prescribe me creams and washes but as they were available OTC I bought them. They didn't work anyway!

kateandme · 02/02/2017 22:23

cannot believe this thread has come up haha! this has just happened to me and so then chemist have refused to give it to me. now apparently I need to book apt (yeh right in 6months waiting times...) and talk to docs bout it. but I know I need it you ((*&&&&%^%!!

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