To be fed up of doctors doing this

[Catlady1976]

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

[madamginger]

The problem with allowing things on a case by case basis is that there are not enough GPs to review every patient and check that the drugs they have been given actually work ok, it's easier to do a blanket change and then deal with any issues after.
The difference in price between a branded drug and a generic can be enormous.

[Catlady1976]

Maddox I wonder what Bevan would make of the NHS today.

[IamaLadyeee]

They took my B12 injections off once, even though it states I am on them FOREVER

[Catlady1976]

Thank you Ivor I will ask at my next review . In the meant I may try E45 shower.

[madamginger]

I've heard good things about the dermol shower, we have quite a few patients who seem to like it.

[IvorHughJarrs]

Musical Aveeno is on the DROP list here too. Apparently evidence shows no value over cheaper emollients but I have been told it is available at Costco, 3 tubes for £6-7, which is cheaper than 1 tube at a chemist if that helps anyone

[Catlady1976]

Thank you.

[AnneElliott]

I agree it's frustrating when surgeries do this, and especially if you're under a consultant.

I take 3 inhalers daily for my asthma which is currently controlling it, but the surgery keep wanting me to go in to see the nurse and agree to step down my medication.

I find this annoying as I know much more about my condition than the bloody general practice nurse anyway! And why does she think she can tell me that these meds should be stepped down when the actual
Consultant doesn't agree!

Total waste of time going there - and they wonder why there is a shortage of appointments!

[TheFairyCaravan]

SingingInTheRainstorm I've got severe problems with my back and pelvis, my consultant and physiology taught DH how to do massages to try to stop the muscles from seizing because that adds to my pain.

We don't get any help from SS at all. My GP referred me in the Summer of 2015 because DS2 was going to uni and he did a lot of my care as both DH and DS1 are in the armed forces. I was told they had no budget for people my age but if I was a pensioner they would pay for a carer. At times I'm left for a upto a week on my own. Fortunately DH has a very understanding boss and doesn't go away for long periods now.

I'm due to be having surgery in the next few months, it's been delayed because of the crisis in the NHS, and we've just sorted a car with hand controls so hopefully I'll be able to get out and about a little bit more after the Summer.

[IRegretNothing]

I havent rtft but when I worked in pharmacy, the pharmacist could oversee the sale of up to 96 (3 x 32) paracetamol at a time.
I think what is also important to remember is that pharmacies sign people up to automatic repeat prescription services in order to make money. Often, as it's done automatically patients forget to tell the pharmacy that they dont need x, y and z this month so it gets ordered anyway. Pharmacy will fulfil the script and charge nhs for dispensing fees. Boots et al are making ££££ on this kind of arrangement. They are a business and will milk the nhs for as much as possible. As dispensers we would attend courses to teach us how to claim costs for the max amount from the nhs.
I remember assembling huge fucking bags of gluten free crap (biscuits, pizza bases, cake mix) all available on prescription for coeliac patients who would pay their prepayment certificate each year and merrily walk off each month with groceries that they were undoubtedly feeding their whole family on. I mean, the nhs recommend people cut back on sugar and then prescribe bags of biscuits for people?!?

[Foureyesarebetterthantwo]

What I don't understand, perhaps it's been covered and I just didn't see it, but why is it 18p for paracetemol in Poundland or whatever, and several pounds for the NHS to prescribe it.

Surely that's what's wrong with the NHS, it's exceptionally inefficient. Given it should be the largest buyer of paracetemol in the country, why does it cost so much to prescribe it?!

[madamginger]

Because it costs the pharmacy to dispense it, they get paid a standard fee for every prescription no matter what the cost of the drug.

[madamginger]

Plus the pound land 16p box only has 16 tablets, the prescription size has 100 so costs more because it's bigger.
The NHS also pays a set amount for drugs, this months price paid for paracetamol is £2.19 for 100. This allows for price fluctuations in the market, the prices are updated monthly.

[Madhairday]

This has happened to me too. I have around ten prescriptions per month and generally a review yearly. One time I went to collect and it had been blocked until I had a review- I hadn't been told about it and wasn't quite due for it anyway. This meant I was left high and dry without essential meds (including cocodamol which if stopped suddenly can cause horrendous withdrawal effects. )

On going into the surgery I'm calmly told they can fit me in in 3 weeks. No sign of understanding that I simply cannot wait 3 days let alone weeks. Just complete ignoring of my explanation - there are no appointments until then and a review is not an emergency so you have to wait.

I had to get an emergency appt next day and was stared daggers for that.

Rubbish system.

Are they saying Oilatum has no value clinically? It does really help dd who has terrible psoriasis, only along with all the other creams but I think it makes a difference. So when she starts paying for prescriptions she won't get that one anymore and will have to pay for it?

[Catlady1976]

Reading your post thefairy and others like it puts things into perspective.
I hope you get your op soon.

[PlayOnWurtz]

If they remove the purchasing restrictions on paracetamol it would help a lot! It's not the costs that are the problem is the constant going to the shops and shop hopping to get enough in! 16 tablets a box at 8 tablets a day...at most you can buy 4 days of tablets (2 boxes) which is bloody ridiculous when you're a chronic pain patient like me and others

[Catlady1976]

I think some said that removing this restricted for those in need would really help. A letter from Gp authorising purchase maybe.

[WayfaringStranger]

Of course paracetamol should be prescribed for people like Fairy and creams for people like MrsM. They are the exceptions though and I don't believe that everyone is in the same boat. That's why it shouldn't be a blanket policy but should be tightly monitored. For people (like me) with unpleasant and uncomfortable skin conditions, I can and do buy dermol. I know that there are some people who live very rurally, are on the breadline and/or are mainly housebound and of course, they should be prescribed paracetamol.

[Catlady1976]

Which dermol do you buy wayfaring? I believe they do one which can work as a cleanser / moisturizer. Maybe that's my best option. Rather than buying a moisturizer and separate emollient.

[WayfaringStranger]

I can pop upstairs in a minute and look at it for you. I've changed to a different one and it lasts much longer and therefore, much more cost effective. It does rankle a bit when I see cheap soap and I use dermol but my skin is so much better.

[WayfaringStranger]

Ok, I was using the lotion and I changed to the cream, which I use as shower gel and it lathers up nicely. I used to go through the lotion very quickly. I estimate that the cream lasts about 8 times as long. It's much more cost effective.

[Catlady1976]

Thank you.

[TheFairyCaravan]

Thanks Catlady

[Catlady1976]

Thank you. I use epaderm ointment to moisturize at the the moment. Will look at dermol thank you.
I had to give away so much when I was diagnosed.

[youredeadtomesteven]

If you get your medication from a pharmacy such as Boots, you can get your repeat slip to either take away with you or a dispenser will ask you which ones you need for the next time.

There are many changes in Pharmacy every day. For example, movicol is no longer 'a preferred product' so pharmacies are supposed to give Cosmocol (unless the brand name is on the prescription) as it's cheaper. Additionally, a product may become 'unpreferred' due to a new product coming into the market that's cheaper to give on prescription. An example of this is Cetraben emollient cream is becoming restricted as a new cream is coming out.

Gluten free food, paracetamol, low strength iron tablets, hay fever/allergy tablets, calpol, and gaviscon, IMO need to stop being prescribed on prescriptions. There's just no need for it when it's readily available over the counter.