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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for (repeat) prescription for me during child's GP appointment?

56 replies

TammySwansonTwo · 09/12/2017 17:12

I need to take my twins to the GP on Monday - one has an eye issue, the other potentially a chest infection.

I am on longterm medication but as one is a controlled drug it's quite a ballache to get as a repeat (go all the way there to drop off a request, pick it up and sign for it two days later, take it to chemists who order it in, then go back a day later to pick it up). With twins, let alone poorly ones, it's a challenge involving a bus journey and a walk each time (they're a really good Surgery so don't want to move, it's not far just awkward to get to involving a massive hill and no direct bus). This time the repeats have run out anyway so will have to be issued by a doctor in person (or maybe over the phone).

I don't want to waste an entire precious appointment just going in and getting regular prescriptions. Having said that, I don't know if it's massively out of order to ask them to just print off my prescription while I'm already in there with my boys - I don't know if this affects their funding or something as well (e.g. they wouldn't be paid for having seen me)?

Would it be okay to ask? Really don't want to be any trouble to them but it would save me a massive amount of time and energy that I don't really have.

OP posts:

Crunchymum · 09/12/2017 17:15

You can ask. Why not?

There is a new repeat prescription initiative (online) that has been launched. Maybe this will benefit you?

MadamPatti · 09/12/2017 17:17

I’ve done this before. Can’t see the problem. Wasn’t a problem to the doctor. X

Original poster

TammySwansonTwo · 09/12/2017 17:18

Thanks - I wasn't sure if it was against some sort of rule (not used to going to appointments for other people rather than myself!). I imagine it's better for them not to waste an appointment, unless they get funding per consultation I guess. Saves them some work this way I reckon!

I've just registered with them for their online service but don't have the log in details yet - should be able to request online then, but will still have to go and pick it up and sign for it because it's controlled. This must be a new thing as they've definitely sent them electronically in the past.

OP posts:

Sirzy · 09/12/2017 17:20

Our GP has a very firm “one appointment one problem” rule. So they certainly wouldn’t do another person as that would mean taking time to bring up more records and f the repeat has ran out doing the required checks for it to be reissued

melj1213 · 09/12/2017 17:36

My GP has no problem tagging a repeat prescription for me on to the end of an appointment for dd but I always let the surgery know ahead of the appointment time - even if it's just as I'm signing in with the receptionist on the day of dd's appointment - so that they know to pop a note through to the doctor on their internal messenger service so he/she can pull my notes up too

Original poster

TammySwansonTwo · 09/12/2017 17:37

Fair enough - there aren't any checks needed (been on the same drug for a decade, no change in dose in the last few years etc), there are just a limited number of issues with every medication. I don't think our practice has any such rule (I've certainly discussed more than one problem) but can understand this taking up time they may not have.

OP posts:

EdithWeston · 09/12/2017 17:38

As she has twins with one issue each, she's presumably on a double apppointment already, which might give more wriggle room.

Can you ring ahead and ask the receptionist if she can wangle it through the system so it's ready to pick up when you're there?

If no, then all you can do us ask whilst you're in with the doctor and hope for the best. If there's still plenty of time you might strike lucky. If you've only got a single spot for two poorly DC, don't get your hopes too high.

bringonthesunn · 09/12/2017 17:43

At my surgery we ask for 48 hours notice for each repeat prescription, there are thousands of patients so it does take time and sometimes the Dr needs to check blood pressure and bloods are up to date.
You can ask of course but the answer may well be no I'm afraid

Eltonjohnssyrup · 09/12/2017 17:45

Worked in GPS surgeries and normally this is seen as being bang out of order. But as you have small poorly twins they may well bend the rules. The only problem might be that in some surgeries their software will not allow your record to be accessed without a legitimate reason such as an appt or a phone consultation booked in etc as this protects confidentiality.

Although, having said that, in the past many areas had policies in place which said if you tell the surgery you are a traveller they have to sort out all health problems of whoever is attending regardless of whether or not the appointment is for them or not. Unsure if that still applies though.

ItsNachoCheese · 09/12/2017 17:49

Ive done this before and the doctor didnt mind. Ive also asked about changing tablets at one of ds's appointments as its usually a 2wk wait for an appointment

Original poster

TammySwansonTwo · 09/12/2017 17:51

Thanks everyone, appreciate your thoughts.

I'm actually unsure if they booked one or two appointments - I suspect two, but if they couldn't find two adjacent ones they may have just booked one.

I don't need any BP checks or anything else for the medication, no other test results or anything.

I'll ask and see if they can, if not I'll request it while I'm there and go back a couple of days later to pick it up. I'm sure it is technically possible as they've issued a prescription for both twins while they're only seeing one (they're on the same prescription formula), I just wasn't sure if it was really out of order to ask.

OP posts:

britnay · 09/12/2017 17:59

Does your surgery not do electronic prescriptions? If it does then you could order a repeat from the desk when you go there, and they'll process it and send it to your local pharmacy (if you are signed up for EPS with them) for you to collect in 48-72 hours usually.

Original poster

TammySwansonTwo · 09/12/2017 18:02

That's what they used to do but now they say that because it's a controlled drug it has to be collected from the surgery and signed for. Never used to be an issue so not sure if it's a recent rule change or what, but it's made life a lot more difficult!

OP posts:

britnay · 09/12/2017 18:15

Ah, sorry, I missed the part about controlled drug. Do none of the local pharmacies collect (physical) prescriptions from your surgery?

KathArtic · 09/12/2017 18:18

I'm on a controlled drug.

My pharmacy (Tesco) will pick up my CD script for me, dispense it and I just need to pick it up with my shopping two days later along with my online requests. I do need to give a weeks notice though, and they have offered to do the repeat for me.

Can you not hand in a request at the reception when you book in? Ours has slips on the counter.

MrsLupo · 09/12/2017 18:40

I do it all the time, but one of my kids has an ongoing condition and I would probably never leave the surgery if I had to make appointments for me too! Also, my GP is lovely and super efficient so almost always has time in hand, whereas the surgery as a whole is a shitshow and fucks up my repeat prescriptions almost every time, hence the need to ask. In this day and age, very unlikely the GP will need notice to 'call up your notes', as the notes of everyone at the same address will be linked on the system. I would bite my tongue if the surgery was up to its neck in emergencies and my GP stressed and running late though.

Original poster

TammySwansonTwo · 09/12/2017 19:42

Thanks everyone. When I have a bit more time / energy I will ask the practice if there's any way a chemist could collect it, but given that almost all scripts are electronic now I don't think they do the physical collections any more.

They know how hard it is for me to get my prescriptions anyway (I had to write to all the GPs when a couple of them were refusing to give me any leeway in ordering it while I was there / in the area / well enough to get there - most of them get it and it has been better since)

OP posts:

Allthewaves · 09/12/2017 19:49

Dc is on controlled drugs. I just order it over phone with GP then Boots collects it (as its paper script) and they message me when it's ready. I go into the chemist, sign and I get dc medication

londonrach · 09/12/2017 19:51

Depends on gp but kinda seen as rude as its one problem one appt for most gps. Can you book your own appt op

QueenEnid · 09/12/2017 19:56

I always ask if it's a repeat for me.
If it was a new issue then I'd say it would be better for you to make a new appointment but if not then definitely ask!

jacks11 · 09/12/2017 20:01

Professionally speaking, I think it depends on whether the GP will need to check anything or simply print it off. And with a controlled drug they will have to check whether you still need it (unless they know you well)/that you're not ordering too early and so on.

Also think it depends on how long your twins appointment will last- if it's running over time then I think you'd be unreasonable to add on this. If everyone just adds on a few minutes it can mean by the end of the surgery they're running very late.

Can't you just ask at reception for the repeat to be requested and pick as usual?

jacks11 · 09/12/2017 20:08

I had to write to all the GPs when a couple of them were refusing to give me any leeway in ordering it while I was there

With controlled drugs Dr's do have to be extra vigilant about ordering early/too frequently. Because they are controlled drugs and there are extra safeguards and monitoring in place. This is mandatory and not just made up by the Dr- this can be flagged up and investigated (so potentially major headache for everyone involved). If a patient is repeatedly ordering early, it can look like they are taking more than prescribed and this is a trigger for review and sometimes putting firm limits on frequency of issue (patients onto daily or weekly dispense, for instance).

Clearly, your GP's have chosen to put an exemption in place and that's fine- just trying to explain why they may have been a bit more difficult than you'd have liked.

BobTheGoldfish · 09/12/2017 20:24

GPs are funded per person registered with them (with a complex weighting according to geography, age...) not per appointment so won't affect their funding as suggest up thread.

It will depend on the time it takes to deal with your kids' problems as the appointment is for them. You probably only have 10mins if a single appt and looking up your records and doing a CD prescription realistically will take at least 2-3 mins so may not be possible.

Your idea to ask politely but have a fallback plan sounds a good one.

Probably obvious but demanding or any statements starting with "I pay my taxes..." are likely to be met with less flexibility!

passemoilevin · 09/12/2017 20:35

I work at a GPs. All the pharmacies in our area come to pick up physical scripts, 99% of which are CDs. They legally can't go electronically, though this is set to change in the next year or so.

As for asking in your DC's appointment. Worth a try, usually if they're a nice doctor and have spare time they will IMO. Far better than booking an appointment just for a repeat script, that is very bad form.

NowIKnow · 09/12/2017 20:43

I've done this before and it hasn't been a problem. I haven't been to the gp for a while though either alone or with a child.

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