To think the CQC report on on ine prescribing services will only make life more difficult.

[ExConstance]

DH and I l both work long hours and struggle to get GP appointments. If we can get an appointment it invariably means taking time off work and then waiting and waiting for so long we have to book leave to cover it. We have found it very useful to use Treated.com for antibiotics and my HRT.

DH ascertained a while back that it is no good to go to GP with raging earache as they won't prescribe antibiotics, the only way you can get something that works is to use an on line service and say you have a dental abscess. I have needed a trimethoprim prescription for a UTI on the odd occasion, if I order on line I can get it the next day, having to wait a week to see GP for this sort of condition is nonsense. I need to go to my GP for HRT prescription once a year but at least the on line services mean I'm not subjected to the usual harassment and doom and gloom over this 4 x a year ( with consequent time off work) . Our bodies our choice, I really can't see if with informed decision making I want to order medication and that is checked ( as it is now) by a GP I should have to jump through additional hoops of proving who I am and allowing the GP who has no interest in me and can't even be bothered to have convenient surgery times to be notified. For many of us I suppose we will now just stock up on a plethora of medication while we can, buy abroad in future and - as my GP is of no practical use to me at all, de-register so there can be no unwanted snooping.

fretful parent you are another poster who has not read what I have said, I have been married to DH for over 30 years and he has only ever had one ear infection. Why did you assume it was repeated?

I've just come back from a 10 hour day answering the phone at a GP surgery listening to patients like you. I need a prescription, I'm working, I want to be seen between 5.30 and 6.00, no I can't come then I've told you I'm working. What do you mean I will have to phone at 1.45, I'm working....Try listening hard to see what the receptionist is actually offering you. And as for saying you have a dental abcess when you don't, well I have no words. Many UTIs are resistant to certain antibiotics so they need to be sent off to the lab and cuktured.

Interestingly, intheknickersof time, you are yet another person working in healthcare who can't be bothered to read the thread. For the umpteenth time the system is so dreadful that DH, Repeat, DH. Not me, on the advice of a GP we know socially used this tactic to get treatment for his ear. so, the GP - are you taking note, advised this. Intheknickersofknickersoftime everything you say about the patients you make derogatory comments about illustrates the problem. the surgery should offer appointments when the hard working JAMs of this country need them, some people just can't take time out in the day. There was a proposal we should be able to register closer to where we work, but this seems to have come to nothing.

Meh, I'm bored of this thread now. Sorry OP, I've tried to read the thread but it makes no sense. What you propose is a system that suits you. Flexibility works both ways. If I offered appointments to everyone who phoned the GPs would never go home. Most patients are lovely and I bend over backwards to help ever but the ones who make impossible demands on us, the ones who are working 10 hour days, (yes we work too) are enough to break you. Sorry OP, you're unreasonable and I am off now as I have another 10 hour day tomorrow. You haven't read or taken note of anything anyone has said to you on here.

The GP gave shit advice and, if he really did say this (which I highly doubt), should be reported to the GMC.

Hope that's clear enough 🙄

Why didn't the GP friend do a private prescription if he thought it necessary? If a GP is suggesting lying so you can get antibiotics when you don't need them then it is malpractice. Ear infections in adults don't generally need antibiotics, it clears up over a few days with Paracetamol for discomfort.
Antibiotics need careful guardianship as we face increasing resistance. They should not be used unnecessarily.

In the same vein way that the plural of anecdote isn't data, the advice of one GP that you know socially cannot be considered to be the best national policy for medication prescribing.
Carry on doing what you're doing if you like, accuse those on here who are not agreeing with you as having not listened, ignore the possible consequences to anyone of inapt. antibiotic usage and to society as a whole, but really, why ask the question on AIBU if what you really want is validation?
Yes, GP appointments can be hard to get and involve some work and flexibility on your part. So what? That's not a reason for subverting sensible prescribing policies that mean better outcomes for society as a whole.
Please don't dress up your own need to have the treatment you want, ignoring the valid reasons why it's not a good idea, as some defence of pushing against an unreasonable and dogmatic NHS. It's entitlement dressed up as crusading.

I probably should have posted this in general health, for the millionth time it was DH who got antibiotics for his ear! I don't control him! I did ask him again to confirm th facts! I intend to continue to use on line private GP /pharmacy services and don't see anything wrong with this, especially when farmers can buy large quantities with very little control. gobbolino have reported you, I have posted on here for 12 years now, under this name and Higgle and have never in all those years posted anything factual which is not the truth. I will be sharing this thread with our GP friend, I think he may find the hysteria quite amusing, but I doubt he will be handing himself in to the GMC - why would they be interested in a conversation between friends ?

I have no idea who you are. However, report away - I answered a question that you posed. Honestly, of course as I'm sure you wouldn't want it any other way.

I'm sure your "friend" will find it hilarious. A lack of insight often goes hand in hand with piss poor professional judgement.

Hysteria? Nice. Nothing so arrogant than dismissing people's passionate or strongly held and considered views as 'hysteria'

ExConstance, you're getting a hard time of it here, but FWIW, I completely agree with you. Getting hold of medication is a bureaucratic nightmare and the state interferes far too much.

indeed, the witches cat seems to have departed in more ways than one!

. Yes. Along with your original question that you took such grave offence at being answered.

thank you pebbles, at least those of who don't use the GP if we can avoid it leave a few of those elusive out of working hours appointments for others.

I think online prescribing is a fantastic idea where appropriate, means less GP time taken up and faster treatment for patients. Win win.

I also fully support robust checks to make sure the system isn't being abused. You know, things like people lying to get drugs

A lot of the problem with online prescribing is that people are using it to abuse drugs. Codeine and Pregablin in particular.

I apologise - I was not clear from your first post that you DH only had a one off ear infection. I should have clearly read all your posts.

However regradign your DHs GP - I feel the GP's response was wrong: GPs can prescribe for anything as long as they can justify it if required ( very unlikley). So he could have issued a script or he could have issued a delayed script.
Also the GP could have lied on what he wrote on the notes changing a day of ear ache to 3 days, thereby making him look like he was following guidelines, but encouraging a patient to use another service and lie in the process of doing so, is malpractice in my opinion.
This also implies that the online GP will not prescribe for ear infections without examination so if you have to lie and say a dental abscess then why didn't t your DH GP just write that?

You'll probably die of antibiotic resistance. You can't buy anything online for that.....

Why do I need "protecting from myself "katronfon"? The CQC changes will not make any difference to me legitimately purchasing on line - it is assessed by an on line doctor and not handed out like sweeties, it will just mean that I have to jump through extra hoops in my busy day providing photo id and allowing my GP to be notified. If you use a private GP face to face I don't think you need to have your NHS doctor notified so to secure privacy that is another hoop to jump through, though it is not as if we even have a private GP in this rural area that it would be any easier to get to see than an NHS one, unless they do Saturday.
appointments. Katronfon - can you confirm, are you opposed to on line GP/dispensing services in principle?

Is there a GP on here? DH was told by a GP who is our friend that he would not be prescribed antibiotics for earache because NHS would not pay for them and if he went to our GP he would be advised to go back the following week. He was advised that a private GP would prescribe because the cost considerations would not apply

Not a GP, but suspect this is rubbish. I've had ear infections where I both have and haven't had antibiotics prescribed and one which turned out not to be an infection at all. Those decisions have always been made by my GP based on clinical need after an examination rather than anything else.

Incidently the ear infection that turned out not to be one cleared up very quickly after the GP appointment. If I'd had antibiotics it would have been very easy to have thought that it was infected because it cleared up.

Have to say I'm surprised the GP prescribed for a dental abscess. I didn't think they were supposed to do that. You need to go to a dentist for that.

Katronfon, these services are already CQC regulated as they are virtual GPs surgeries with a limited role, they will prescribe for dental abscesses
see here for typical service on line clinic