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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be fuming at DS doctors/surgery - sorry long/rant

116 replies

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 28/07/2017 19:58

Going to Turkey next week, ds has prescription sun cream due to allergies, was prescribed by his dermatologist in 2012 and he gets 3 bottles every year.

Now I asked for his prescription on the 21st June, (alongside other medication) and his sun cream wasn't there, with another medicine that he needed, thought human error, ordered it again, went to collect it on the 28th June, got the medicine but no sun cream, again told the receptionist that his cream was't there, she said she will order it again and leave a note.

Went on the 3rd July to get sun cream, and again no script, I asked to speak to the practice manager as it will not be the 4th time I had asked for the cream, got told the PM was at another doctors but they would call me, in the mean time the receptionist said she will order it again.

PM didn't call me so I called again on the 6th June and requested a call back and asked if his scrip was available.... no it wasn't

Called my GP again on the 12th July, and the 13th July as still waiting and no script.

Went to the GP on the 18th July for the complaints procedure, and got a very rude woman, who said the PM was busy, and she will me when she can.

I asked for an appointment for ds1 and 2,, advised that it wasn't an emergency however I would need an appointment, she asked what it was for and I advised it was a private matter, she told me she could not give me an appointment without me telling her.

I said is there a private room we can have (waiting room busy, and in my practice, there is 4 other GP practices) she told me No, so I advised that I would not be disclosing there complaints to a full waiting room. She told me she would not give me an appointment, at this point another receptionist came over I explained and I was given an appointment for today.

Ds1 has been referred to hospital (he has a undescended/retracted testicle) so possibly need surgery as he is 11 and having some discomfort with it now.

ds2 I needed some antibacterial cream as his skin is infected, he also needed his cold sores to be checked out, as he gets one and as soon as we get it cleaned another turns up, however pretty horrific. (ds2 has a compromised immune system, so cold sores are common for him, however currently they are horrific)

While at the doctors, I also asked about his sun cream, doctor advised that sun cream is now no longer provided by the NHS and he would need to be seen by a dermatologist, I advised that he is under this and it was then who had given him the script. He said he could see this, however it needed to be reviewed every 3 years, and it would be rare that it will be given out now.

I advised that if I was told this at the time (21st June) I could have had ds on trial creams, however could not do this

I said I could under stand this, however we go on holiday in 8 days... he said he could not help and that it was the NHS who had stopped it.

I advised if I was told this on the 21st June, I could have spoken to his consultant, however couldnt do this with 7 days to go. GP said I would just have to try, or he could give me a private scrip, which I have taken and paid £78.78p for 4 bottes of 120 ml sun cream to last him the 4 weeks!!! AIBU to be fuming at the doctors for this

And to make matters even shittier, ds left his wallet on the pharmacy desk, and a woman has stolen it, caught on CCTV, pharmacist seen her with it, and knows who she is as she handed a prescription in, so got the Police coming to me tomorrow also for this (alot of money in his wallet as he just had a special event)

OP posts:
HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 28/07/2017 19:59

sorry for many errors, , however want wine and cant until dh comes home Sad

OP posts:
PlugUgly1980 · 28/07/2017 20:05

Phone the Consultant (or their secretary),explain the problem and ask them to issue you with a script to collect or to fax to pharmacy. Most pharmacies will be able to get your cream in the next day if they don't hold it in stock. 8 days is plenty of time.

Flowerpower321 · 28/07/2017 20:07

If it's the sunsense cream just buy it from Amazon- much easier- and I say this as someone who has prescription suncream due to a medical condition. Cheaper than a private prescription.

dottycat123 · 28/07/2017 20:15

The majority of sunbeam that GPS could prescribe is easily available as its not a prescription only product. Also pharmacies abroad(in my experience of a ds with severe skin reactions) are excellent at recommending sun protection products.

kali110 · 28/07/2017 20:15

Id be raising a complaint, not due to the cream, but due to how you were treated.
-you were never told you could no longer have the cream on prescription
-the attitude of the receptionist

  • her response on the phone towards you,
  • her refusing to give you an appointment just because you wouldn't say what it was for,
  • her refusing you an app again even though you very reasonably asked to go someone private to discuss the matter
BabsGanoush · 28/07/2017 20:16

I had a similar problem a few months back - our practice have appointed a pharmacist to prescribe repeat scripts instead of requests going to the GP. We were going on holiday and i was trying to make sure I have enough tablets to cover me for the holiday and when I got back.

However there was a problem with one script but instead of phoning me to let me know, they just did nothing. It was left to me, with a few days left, to sort it out and eventually get a script from the hospital instead.

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 28/07/2017 20:20

Plug I tried that, the NHS wont give it out now, and only give it it rare cases, dh has acute allergies however she said with the new NHS policy, she would need to justify why she prescribed him the cream, and with that he would need skin tests and blood tests again and she could not fit him and get the results before he went away.

So I had no choice but to pay the £78.78p

Flower I would check with your doctor, apparently the "governing body", of who decides what medicines can be given out on prescriptions have now decided sun cream is no longer allowed.

OP posts:
Gemini69 · 28/07/2017 20:23

aaahhhh Doctors Receptionists....

2rebecca · 28/07/2017 20:44

Suncream is only available on the NHS for a very limited number of skin conditions.
Borderline substances

Anthelios® XL SPF 50+ Melt-in cream; Sunsense® Ultra; Uvistat® Lipscreen SPF 50; and Uvistat® Suncream SPF 30 and 50 (see Borderline substances) are regarded as drugs when prescribed for skin protection against ultraviolet radiation in abnormal cutaneous photosensitivity resulting from genetic disorders or photodermatoses, including vitiligo and those resulting from radiotherapy; chronic or recurrent herpes simplex labialis. Preparations with SPF less than 30 should not normally be prescribed

I like sunsense cream but I buy it online. GPs often have a better knowledge of what is allowable on the NHS than dermatologists who rarely actually prescribe it.

Crumbs1 · 28/07/2017 20:48

Sounds like you are cross about having to pay and that is unreasonable. If you choose to take your child on holiday to a very hot country then I can't see why you shouldn't pay for suncream - albeit an expensive one. There is no need for suncream as you could go somewhere cool or keep child covered. The NHS is financially constrained and stuff like suncream isn't really essential to health.

GnusSitOnCanoes · 28/07/2017 20:48

Haud, I have nothing helpful to say, but that all sounds shit and I'm sorry it's been such an annoying day. Hope Wine is coming your way shortly.

2rebecca · 28/07/2017 20:49

Also usually you have to visit the GP regularly to get repeat prescriptions reauthorised. Some people seem to think that once they get a medication they can get it forever without ever visiting the GP to get stuff reauthorised. Your son should have been visiting the GP at least annually to get his medications reauthorised.

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 28/07/2017 20:55

"2rebecca* my ds gets the UVISAT 50, due to his allergies, he was prescribed this as he has varicose eczema and skin grafts,

I've looked at prices, and it looks like I've paid £5+ extra per bottle Sad however Ive guaranteed that im getting it.

However it kicks, as we have also paid £538 just for his insurance also!

OP posts:
AnotherLegoBrick · 28/07/2017 20:56

Like 2rebecca says above the criteria for prescribing are fairly strict. In the past many GPs would have prescribed regardless, but as budgets get smaller and CCGs scrutinise more they are less likely to go against the rules.

Examples of where prescribing sunscreens on the NHS is inappropriate include eczema, following surgery for skin cancers or where patients experience allergies to regular sunscreens.

This explains it fairly well:

www.panmerseyapc.nhs.uk/guidelines/documents/G39.pdf

2rebecca · 28/07/2017 21:01

Allergies are no longer a reason for an NHS prescription. It's only an allergy to the actual sun ie a photodermatosis that counts for allergies. Loads of people are allergic to stuff in suncreams. The NHS can do skin tests to tell you what you're allergic to but you then have to buy the stuff yourself. You could ask the dermatologist to prescribe it for you, but I suspect they'd then find the hospital pharmacy advisor tells them they're breaking the rules as well.

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 28/07/2017 21:03

No crumbs you are wrong! I've paid it, however ds needs it due to his medical condition, its been prescribed, under consultant care, they know he needs it, however I have to subject my child to retesting for a tick exercise box! Thats what I am furious with.

He would need this whether he was in the UK or not, I cant just pop to Asda and buy it, i have to special order it from Lloyds pharmacy, or buy it online.

OP posts:
FluffyPineapple · 28/07/2017 21:09

Suncream is widely available in all pharmacies and supermarkets. Is there a reason why you can't buy it? All 5 of us in our house need strong painkillers (for one reason and another which I wont go in to). We buy them as they are freely available in the pharmacies and supermarkets.....

AnotherLegoBrick · 28/07/2017 21:10

Consultants do not always prescribe within guidelines. You have to have a condition listed in the ACBS to be eligible.

The fact that you have to make a special order isn't taken in to account.

SingaSong12 · 28/07/2017 21:10

What is wrong here isn't as much the NHS decision not to prescribe but the long delay in informing you so that you could make arrangements yourself to get the cream. I would definitely make a complaint about that.

SophieGiroux · 28/07/2017 21:16

You may be better off getting a pharmacy to just order it in and buy it otc. If on private prescription you would pay a dispensing fee which covers the work of slapping the label on which I doubt you need plus paperwork the pharmacy has to do.
Also sometimes doctors charge to write a private script so you were lucky if they didn't.

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 28/07/2017 21:17

"rebecca* why have you assumed he is not getting checked annually? Hmm

He does, hes at the doctors at least once a month, most times his doctor ask if he still needs X,Y and Z prescriptions on his repeats, hes under consultants care at 3 renowned hospitals, for his various conditions. He has 5 grade 6 allergies.

OP posts:
SteppingOnToes · 28/07/2017 21:17

Could you not use a UV suit instead? Much better protection that bare skin and sun cream.

Ollivander84 · 28/07/2017 21:21

They're definitely tightening on a lot of stuff. I asked for antihistamines as I had a pre payment card (mainly I buy them) and they said no. But because I take so many a day (4 of the one a day) they will give them on prescription now after a chat
I don't mind usually paying for them but I had to pay for a sharps box and that was a bit annoying as I pay for the injections plus I can buy the sharps box cheaper but they won't dispose of it!

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 28/07/2017 21:21

SingaSong, that's what my AIBU is all about. Its not about how much I have paid, I think in all of the above post, the cost equated to a sentence and a bit.

My AIBU was that they left it until the very last minute and left me with no option really.

OP posts:
AnotherLegoBrick · 28/07/2017 21:22

Does he have one of these:

Photosensitive dermatoses
Photosensitive dermatoses are caused by light and include polymorphic light eruption (PLE), actinic prurigo, chronic actinic dermatitis, solar urticaria, hydroa vacciniforme. Most are immunologically- mediated except those related to chemicals (drugs, porphyria) and DNA repair (xeroderma pigmentosum). The BNF states that certain drugs, such as demeclocycline, phenothiazines, or amiodarone, can cause photosensitivity

Or one of these:

Photoaggravated dermatoses
Photoaggravated dermatoses are pre-existing skin conditions that can be made worse with light in exposed areas of skin, e.g. cutaneous lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, herpes simplex, Darier’s disease, pellagra, some cases of rosacea and vitiligo.

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