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

[HaudYerWheeshtBawbag]

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)

Stepping he is using a UV suit, however unless hes in a burka, he will still need sun cream, mostly for his graft sites.

I'd complain, this should have been highlighted at the first opportunity.

Both me and my sister have a long list of medications we can and can't have, we both have 3 month reviews with the gp, it's not it fun and a tick box exercise and waste of everyone's time as neither of us will ever get 'better' our condition will get worse but we are certainly never going to stop needing the drugs.

What's the name of the cream?

Some of these replies are ridiculous! As if you can wear a UV suit every day of your life. He needs the sun cream. Sounds rubbish OP, they should have told you when you first requested it and then you would have had time to sort it. A similar thing happened to me before I went away for 3 months and it caused a lot of stress. I would complain.

I would complain to the practice manager that their disorganisation led you on a wild goose chase with zero time to rectify the issue in hand.

All they had to do was phone/email you to say it couldn't be ordered

But also you need to complain about the practice manager.

Photoaggravated dermatoses - according to a quick google on PD

Eczemas, which are diseases where the top layer of skin (the epidermis) becomes inflamed. This group includes: atopic eczema, lichen planus, psoriasis.

Now ds has atopic and varicose eczema (atopic is very common) I could actually show you a photo, of what we had took last week of his skin, as he had to be sent home from school as he was uncomfortable and his meds weren't helping ease him! Il post a photo next, I am on my laptop

Wevhave had similar. It's the disrespect for people's time that irks and being messed about.

Some good blisters and more grafts would be cheaper or preferable I suppose.

I've learnt my lesson now and just make a dd's apt for dd's repeats they occasionally grumble but face to face they don't refuse the prescription. It's easier to her minimum wage staff to do that and take the flak.

I just make routine appointments well in advance.

When the prescription was refused the first time the least that should have been done was a note on the system so that when the receptionist looked they could let you know then rather than the to-ing and fro-ing

Doesn't shock me though as barely a month goes by without issue getting ds meds at some stage in the system

When you get a private prescription you pay a dispensing fee to the pharmacist. I don't know why you didn't just purchase from the pharmacy.

From my earlier post

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.

It seems the GP was right not to prescribe, but there was a unacceptable delay in communicating this to you.

yanbu to complain.
this was not very well communicated and you were given wrong information.

Ds skin last week, he's still bad however not as sore now, he has patches he this all over his torso, graft sites and arms and legs.

I'm honestly not trying to save a few bucks here, he NEEDS the cream.

When he comes back of holiday we can trial and error, however I cannot do this currently, it's too late.

Fluffypineapple probably not relevant but 'strong' analgesia cannot be bought - only moderate codeine preparations such as OTC solphadeine and some NSAIDs (e.g. naproxen as part of feminax).

Strong analgesia needs a prescription 99% of the time (eg higher strengths of codeine , dihydrocodeine , morphine based tablets, patches, NSAIDs and tricylic antidepressants).

Majority of what you can buy tends to be far weaker and not so useful for prolonged issues - maybe worth a chat with GP if you can (apologies if you already have) as sometimes better options , always best GP knows if you're in persistant pain and using OTC stuff a lot.

Haudyer I would 'complain' about lack of consistency between hospital and GP , and lack of timely information from the latter - but would probably just telephone secretary or see GP post holiday to discuss as opposed to going down formal line of complaint. Probably find it gets sorted faster . Must be frustrating alk round though x

Ineverpromise - for Over The Counter products I would charge retail price less VAT - so 20% cheaper that buying it.

Forgot photo

FluffyPineapple I'm going to assume you just haven't read the post and advise you do before leaving comments. There a very good reason which has been stated why she can't pop to the bloody supermarket for cream!

It is very annoying that you were strung along for so long. My GP surgery did that to me when the format of one of my meds was discontinued and a consultant had to prescribe its replacement.

I think you can certainly complain about the red tape and lack of communication. Unfortunately if the very over-stretched NHS has decreed that you have to pay for Uvistat (which Boots sells, along with several online shops) that may be something that you have to put up with. My dd can only use Anthelios 50 so I have to shell out £££ for it but it's one of those things.

YANBU about the red tape delays and faffing though.

To be fair it could be ordered in a morning and be at the Pharmacy by 5pm

Anotherlegobrick yes but it probably would have been possible to obtain a VAT exemption for medical reasons.

Haudyer you could look into this if you will be buying it in the future.

I do understand your frustration.

Ihateunclejamie Boots doesn't regularly stock anymore. Although it can still be ordered. Sunsense and Anthelios has really taken over from Uvistat.

Anotherbricklego see this is where I get confused, on the guidelines as to why sun cream should be prescribed it says "Photosensitive dermatoses" and under this is classed as follows link

"Eczemas, which are diseases where the top layer of skin (the epidermis) becomes inflamed. This group includes: atopic eczema, lichen planus, psoriasis"

However it then states "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"

However Photosensitive dermatoses is classed as eczema and atopic is the most common eczema in the world.[hmm

unless I have read this incorrectly the whole thing is just baffling!!!

Maybe at your pharmacy anotherbrick however ds isn't getting his prescription until Wednesday as that's the soonest they could get him it.

Shouldnthave..... You are wrong! I buy strong painkillers, including paracetamol extra and 500mg Iboprufen x3 times a week... I also purchase skin preparations such as emollients, sun blocks, dermatitis skin repair ointments and soothers, plus non adhesive pads and bandages.....amongst others.....

I cannot see why anyone feels the need to slate the NHS when most medications (especially sun blocks) are freely available, albeit they may have to buy them. So what??