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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:
Summerswallow · 28/07/2017 22:27

Not sure this is quite the right thread, but is Sunsense good for children who are allergic to the typical sunscreens? My dd is allergic to most, found one a few years back that was ok, they changed the formula, now she's allergic to that one- any suggestions of what to buy? Reacts to basically all sunscreens, but manages most shampoos/soaps ok now.

Ceto · 28/07/2017 22:30

YA very clearly NBU, and many posts on this thread spectacularly miss the point. It was inexcusable to mess you around like this when they could have given you the facts the first time you asked. People talk about NHS resources, but what about the waste of the receptionists' time repeatedly talking to OP and reordering the prescription?

I suggest you enter a formal complaint with the practice and, if that doesn't resolve matters, take it to the NHS ombudsman.

OhTheRoses · 28/07/2017 22:32

hulder my dd is presently prescribed 10mg fluoxetine. She takes this every other day as well as 20mg fluoxetine daily.

Her psychiatrist initially prescribed 25mg daily. The 5mg avail only as liquid. It is so disgusting it makes dd heave but the difference in her well being has been awesome. So the 10mg capsule was suggested.

Not my fault those 10mg capsules are £100 for a two month supply or that the tablets are £135 if caps out of stock.

If dd didn"t have optimal meds, she'd have dropped out of school and her contributions to society would have become limited. She is tremendously well at present.

The NHS has provided zero support. She is lucky her parents have had £5000 to spend on her medical care to support her to recover. IMO the NHS can find the capsules or tablets. The NHS has done bugger all else for her. It's a battle every time, unless we actuallyvsee the Dr who writes the prescription nicely rather than argue. Have already complained formally to CCG about lack of support from CAMHS and incompetence of both CAMHS and our local A&E.

AnotherLegoBrick · 28/07/2017 22:32

The ombudsman - seriously? Now that would be a waste of resource.

user1499786242 · 28/07/2017 22:33

Did I just read a comment where someone stated that paracetamol and ibuprofen are 'strong painkillers'
Wow
Just wow

You'd love tramadol 😜

nursy1 · 28/07/2017 22:36

These sorts of prescriptions have gone the same way as prescriptions for gluten free bread etc. The NHS now regard holidays as a luxury - you could go to Torquay after all and not be troubled by the sun Smile
Your complaint is really about the lack of communication I think. The receptionists will probably not have been aware of the restriction, the GP may not have been aware until he tried to do the script and the " not allowed" box came up on his screen. The trouble is time pressures! He/ she should have called you and explained but when every minute counts calling the District Nurses to get them to collect pain meds for the dying guy will take priority.

Hulder · 28/07/2017 22:40

OhTheRoses I would completely agree with you. No doubt the consultant has no idea that the 5mg only comes as a liquid that tastes like poison.

I've had to argue to toss for someone to have meds I recommended prescribed by a GP because they 'were expensive' - well without them he was fucking unmanageable so to my mind it was a bargain plus the poor sod was dying I just went on and on like a broken record. Happens all the time.

I don't mind if it is something that has no evidence base but I do mind when it's an evidence based drug the patient is actively benefitting from.

OhTheRoses · 28/07/2017 22:45

The point you have missed I think nursy is that the NHS is free only at the point of delivery. Many patents work full time in responsible jobs. They are under probably as much if not more pressure than the average GP. I do not appreciate GP surgeries wasting my time when I am expected to respect the GPS. But I've learned the lesson the hard way. I don't order repeats any more. I make an appointment with the GP the request them. Sometimes we have a little conversation about why when the GP suggests I could order a repeat. Ha bloody ha.

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 28/07/2017 22:46

OhTheRoses, thats pathetic, so they prescribed her a medication that they wanted and now crumble at the cost Hmm I dont understand it at times.

We've had to pay a lot for ds medical treatment, (private specialists and travel) however I cant hate the NHS or dislike them, I just had his surgery.

I'm changing GP surgeries now, as it was getting silly, I may have started a thread about this, however ds epi pens expired and they would only prescribe one epi pen, (he needs 4, 2 for school and 2 for home, 2nd one is in case the 1st one does not work) as he stated at 7 he should carry the epi pen on him at all times, even in a school with hundreds of primary aged children....Hmm

funnily his school did not allow it, and GP disagreed with them, I had to get his consultant from Great Ormond to email the GP, he emailed a very sharply worded letter.

OP posts:
poweredbybread · 28/07/2017 22:52

Hi OP you should complain about the way you were treated at the gp practice. As you have said yourself this is not so much about the creams ( loads of things no longer can be prescribed on NHS financial constraints etc etc ) but there is no way you should have to explain in front of other patients about your sons testicles. I really hope he wasn't with you. Good for you for refusing. Why on earth could they just not tell you about the bloody cream ffs! It's a waste of everybody's time. I say this as someone who used to be a practice nurse and think receptionists have a difficult job. But really ..... have a lovely holiday. And hope you have had wine and get some functioning bank cards before you go away. Wine

thereallochnessmonster · 28/07/2017 22:52

If his skin is that bad, is it s good idea to take him to. Very hot country?

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 28/07/2017 22:58

The sun and warm country is the best treatment for him, and his allergies Grin

Thanks powered, you've nailed my complaint, ds1 was with me, he was bright red.

OP posts:
OhTheRoses · 28/07/2017 22:58

To be fair op her private psychiatrist prescribed the additional 5mg. The psychiatrist we have now paid £5k to because the NHS/CAMHS refused support to a teenager who met the tier 3 threshold. Same psychiatrist who diagnosed ADHD ADD variant which was the root cause of problems. GP has to be fair agreed to prescribe the recommendations. It seems to be the salaried GPs who try to wriggle out of it. Not the partners.

poweredbybread · 28/07/2017 23:00

And of course he needs more than one epi-pen!

AnotherLegoBrick · 28/07/2017 23:03

•The sun and warm country is the best treatment for him, and his allergies•

So you can't really argue that he has a photo-sensitive or photo-aggravated dermatosis then.

Sedona123 · 28/07/2017 23:07

Summerswallow - I have no idea about Sunsense, but my DS is allergic to most suncreams, but has been fine for the past couple of years with Green People SPF30 Organic. You can buy it from their website for £18 for 150 ml, but they do also sell smaller trial size bottles and sachets to try. Their small trial sachets of kids body wash and shampoo are great for a night away too.

OP - YANBU to be annoyed at being messed around, but YABU to expect to get free prescriptions for suncream if it can be bought anywhere.

ParadiseCity · 28/07/2017 23:09

I think you have every right to be fuming, they have fucked you about, and given you not enough time to sort stuff, and added to that no privacy re testicles etc. None of that is due to budgets it's just people not doing their job correctly. Not bloody good enough!

Hope you get the wallet back and have wine soon Wine

Perfectly1mperfect · 28/07/2017 23:10

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag Flowers

Glad that you are changing surgeries, I hope the new one is better. I would be putting in a complaint if I was you.

You GP should have phoned you when you first asked for the suncream to let you know it was unavailable now or they could have just written a note to be stapled to the other prescriptions explaining the situation if they really didn't have time to call you.

Also the receptionist that tried to make you give the reason that you needed an appointment is absolutely disgusting. You don't have to give a reason if it's personal. Part of her job is to act with discretion.

I know the NHS is struggling but they really need to improve their communication.

It must be very difficult for you with all your sons allergies. There are many people who have taken advantage of the NHS for many years, accepting prescriptions for low cost over the counter items. Those people annoy me. This case is completely not that at all. And people saying you don't have to go abroad etc, do they not put suncream on their children in the UK ? I certainly do, but luckily I can buy it easily in Boots. People need to think before they write such flippant, hurtful things. It could easily be their child with complex allergies.

I hope you manage to have a good holiday and that the police get your husbands wallet back. Some people have no conscience.

xxx

2rebecca · 29/07/2017 00:00

Agree that if his skin gets better in the sun it is definitely not a photodermatosis so the GP was correct in saying the NHS would no longer fund it. If you generally dislike your GP surgery then move but as the UK has a GP shortage at the moment and a cash shortage I wouldn't move just because in future you're going to have to pay for sun cream. Most GPs are quite happy for complaining patients to go elsewhere, .

2rebecca · 29/07/2017 00:04

The severity of the eczema is irrelevant, if it's eczema not a photodermatosis (which is an allergic reaction to UV light or triggered or worsened by UV light) then you can't get suncream at the tax payers expense).

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 29/07/2017 00:11

WILL PEOPLE STOP THINKING OR SAYING THIS IS BECAUSE OF COST IT, IS NOT!!! I dont know many times I have to say this

WILL PEOPLE STOP THINKING OR SAYING THIS IS BECAUSE OF COST, IT IS NOT!!! I dont know many times I have to say this

WILL PEOPLE STOP THINKING OR SAYING THIS IS BECAUSE OF COST, IT IS NOT!!! I dont know many times I have to say this

OP posts:
PersianCatLady · 29/07/2017 00:41

UVISTAT 50+ is readily available online and shops.

I cannot understand why you didn't just buy it instead causing yourself all of this hassle and stress.

Why did you pay for a private prescription when you could have bought it from Amazon??

PersianCatLady · 29/07/2017 01:27

WILL PEOPLE STOP THINKING OR SAYING THIS IS BECAUSE OF COST, IT IS NOT!!! I dont know many times I have to say this
Your GP surgery treated you badly so you are changing to a different surgery - problem solved.

DS sun cream no longer available on NHS prescription, buy it online or from a shop - problem solved.

Was there any other issues that needed sorting out or not??

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 29/07/2017 07:00

Persian

Are you trying to do dictate what posters can and can't post on MN Confused arentounthe MN police as to decide when a OP should stop posting on. Thread they started Hmm

FYI I didn't know I could buy it online, I ordered his prescription in the same way I have done since 2012!

On doing a quick google search I can buy ds medicines over the counter and online, I can purchase blue inhalers for £9, epi pens for £48-£80 (for a pack of 2) however as he's a child, under 16 we get these on script, I had no reason to believe he would not get this prescription as I was not informed he wouldn't, after all the GP receptionist was as confused as I was.

So I chased his repeat prescription, which is still on his repeat prescription lists, as they are part of his prescription in the same way as his inhalers are, his epi pens are etc... but according to you with your attitude I should just buy all his prescription medicines over the counter, either on line or separately just because you can Hmm

Once I was told I had to buy it, I paid and ordered it.

I had at the time, no idea if you could buy it online for cheaper, after all the only option my GP had given was a private script.

The GP has many faults and this practise is abysmal at communication and handling complaints more so when a practise manager can't even return a phone call.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 29/07/2017 07:25

Ventolin and epi pens are both prescription only meds so although you can buy online you would still need a prescription to get them legally!

That's besides the point though as as you have said this is much more about poor communication.