GP can't give medical advice on phone while patient abroad?

[DorothyL]

Just phoned my gp - we are on holiday abroad but ds has ongoing health problems.
I was told that I could not be given medical advice while we are abroad ? Does anybody if this is right? I just wanted some advice regarding his medication.
Am rather baffled!

waxmytash it is okay for licenced medical people (and simliar) to post prescription drugs, it is not not okay for random people to do it.

There are also packaging requirements.

Why are you saying this: doctor who most likely never even heard of ds's condition? Doctors in Germany will know what bronchiectasis is . Just go to a local doctor, they will phone your GP for the sputum result.

Ds has a rare genetic condition. Bronchiectasis is just one of the issues arising from it. This condition the local doctor would be unlikely to have heard of.

The local doctors are perfectly capable of looking things up, or phoning the uk lab for results.

I would never risk my livelihood like this, and I think NotBadConsidering is putting their own at considerable risk. You'd be amazed at what the gmc get their knickers in a twist about...

I think you should ring notbad

His current issue is his chest and the underlying bronchiectasis though? I think you are under-estimating the intelligence of German doctors. If they have not heard of his particular genetic condition, they can look it up.

I don't think there is any need for all this. Get an appoint meant with a local doctor and it will all get sorted out easily.

Well I would happily advise the OP if their child was my patient, because I know the nature of bronchiectasis, I know that treatment is commonly commenced when a parent makes contact to say their child has a wet cough, and I would prefer the child get the right antibiotic from the start. Happily risk my practice and would defend myself to the end. Funnily enough I can't find anything saying I can't. There is legislation to say that the NHS is no longer responsible for care, and is not obliged to issue prescriptions, but the patient's location while seeking advice is not relevant and at the discretion of the doctor:

www.wessexlmcs.com/patientstravellingabroadprescriptionsadvice

Rules are rules. Also remember the insurance is there to protect you just as much as it is to protect the doctor. Years ago I handled a claim against a doctor (admittedly in the private sector) who had invalidated their insurance - then removed all their assets from the UK, so there was nothing in the country to enforce against. So we had a badly injured claimant who got absolutely no damages whatsoever.

I know that's not similar to your situation - but my point is that asking a doctor to practice without insurance is as dangerous for you as it is for them.

so you are in germany where it is easy to directly access specialist drs of all kinds, in an area you probably know well if you visit regularly. and you have appropriate health insurance...

just go a see a dr. even if your dc's condition is rare, google reference books and treatment protocols exist there as well.

I'm a GP and would offer to leave a copy of the sputum results at reception for collection or send them to a local treating doctor. To try to assess a child via their parent on the phone from abroad to decide what treatment they need would be unwise for the doctor and the patient.

I've had a telephone appointment with my GP when abroad.

Basically, just before a scheduled holiday, a scan revealed a tumour on my kidney (almost certainly cancer - and turned out it was). I had an appointment scheduled with the consultant / surgeon for my return - and wanted to speak with my GP about what sort of questions to ask / what to expect.

She had no problem speaking with me while abroad. Even commented that it was nice that I was having a holiday before returning home for surgery / cancer treatment.

Firstly I hope your little noy improves and that you can enjoy, what seems to be a well needed holiday. Just wanted to make a couple of points though:

1. The rules at have changed but it was my understanding that prescription medication cannot be posted abroad. Certainly when I worked as a pharmacist that was the case.

1. Having had a child with complex medical conditions who suffered from bronchiectasis regularly I would not be happy for ANY doctor to change, stop or begin treatment, or change doses, without him being physically examined by a doctor first.

1. Assuming your travel insurance was told of your sons medical conditions in advance, it would surely be sensible to have your son's chest listened to by a doctor locally, and as others have said THEN they can liase with your regular doctor back home.

1. Did you travel by plane on your holiday on holiday? I note you say your doctors said it was okay for your son to go abroad, I assume his oxygen levels were satisfactory. BUT what about the risk to other people on the same plane catching the infection. My husband has chronic lung condition and "caught" bronchitis three times after a flight. Equally of course your son could "catch" another injection from other passengers.

Good luck anyway.

This condition the local doctor would be unlikely to have heard of

Can I ask why your son's condition would not be known by GP's in the country you are holidaying in? Is the training different here? I am sure this was the last thing you intended, and are just worried about your little boy, but your words have come across a little patronising to the local medics. Surely many unusual conditions GP's in this country may equally not be familiar with in detail, that's why they can refer and seek advice from others. Could not a local doctor where you are contact someone more experienced in this rare condition, even if that means your consultant back home.

direct from the supplier sent via DPD

I think there is a big difference between licensed suppliers posting you drugs directly and your mil wandering down to the pharmacy, collecting your prescription on your behalf and posting it.

There are three realistic possibilities for the OP:

1. the GP at home gives her the results of the recent sputum sample, one way or another (leaving the results to be collected is a reasonable idea). She then goes to a local doctor, explains DC's condition and the results and gets a script for the appropriate antibiotic.

2. she takes her DC to a local doctor who can speak English well enough to call her local GP. Assuming the GP doesn't have any issues with disclosing results to a randomly calling German doctor, the OP gets appropriate treatment for her DC.

3. she takes her DC to a local doctor. That local doctor is unable or unwilling to chase the sputum results from the UK. A fresh sputum sample is requested. Broad spectrum antibiotics are started while the culture and sensitivities are done, usually 48 hours or so.

Now personally I don't see how a GP is risking their livelihood by passing on the information of the sputum result and advising the OP takes her DC to a local doctor. It's safe, sensible advice that saves a well known patient a lot of hassle and ensures the correct treatment for the child.

Yeah, those foreign doctors are basically cleaners in scrubs, no qualifications, training or common sense unless they are superior enough to have trained in the mighty British Empire

I am German myself, there is certainly no xenophobia involved

They do tend to be over thorough though, see my previous experience, and I am worried I'll get caught up in the system when there is no need

Yes we do have travel insurance

Then it seems it is this that you will have to use.