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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Would it be wrong of me to do this?

124 replies

Happyland8 · 21/04/2018 07:01

So I've had to buy an annual prescription. £104 for the year. I have a chronic condition which unfortunately doesn't fall in the category which gives me free prescriptions so this will be cheaper for me than paying the £8.80 charge per item.

The problem is, I'm now going to be loathed to pay for many of the things I have previously bought over the counter. For example (apologies in advance for the overshare), I seem to get recurrent bouts of thrush, the GP is aware. Rather than waste the GP's time, I normally buy some canesten over the counter which is in the region of a tenner. I'm going to be loathed to pay that now when I'm already paying the annual prescription charge. I feel like I'd rather get a GP appointment and get a prescription and then I won't have to pay the extra £10. Would this be wrong of me? I don't want to be a time waster with the GP but I'm paying a fee to have unlimited prescriptions at no extra charge so I'd like to optimise that since DH & I are on a small budget.

Please don't flame me. I don't want to be a drain on the NHS resources. If our finances weren't tight I wouldn't even consider this and it's not as though I'm getting my prescriptions free, I'm paying a monthly fee for them.

Thanks.

OP posts:

eurochick · 21/04/2018 07:03

Of course it would be wrong. That GP appointment could be needed by someone seriously ill. The GP might refuse to prescribe OTC medication anyway.

ChesterCake · 21/04/2018 07:06

YABU, you said you’re already saving by having the prepay card. The nhs is already in crisis without people taking up unnecessary gp appointments for trivial problems that can be solved with over the counter treatments.

LuluBellaBlue · 21/04/2018 07:06

The GP can prescribe you a bulk amount of thrush cream and tablets to take if it’s reaccuring. They may be hesitant to do so, but they did it for my sister. I would request it next time you see your GP about other stuff

Original poster

Happyland8 · 21/04/2018 07:11

I understand what you are all saying but I've only recently found out about the annual prescription offer and the amount I've been spending on medication on the past year has put our family into a very difficult financial position. One month I spent over £60 on prescriptions, they couldn't find an effective medication to treat my condition. We've now found that so my costs would have reduced anyway as I'm not paying for prescriptions that aren't working and then going back to get another prescription that doesn't work and so on. We're trying to get out of debt so paying all that money for medicine plus buying over the counter medicine for other ailments has been a massive struggle for us.

OP posts:

Bumblebee2302 · 21/04/2018 07:12

Might it be something you could get on a repeat basis and so wouldn't have to make an appointment each time, just request it as a repeat every so many weeks/months? If your Dr is aware of it being a recurrent issue, they may agree to this.

abbsisspartacus · 21/04/2018 07:13

Tell them otc treatment isn't working they will give you a course of the pesserys

Elpheba · 21/04/2018 07:16

Could be worth asking for a telephone appointment too- much faster, less of a drain on resources. I wouldn't blame you for feeling that way- I have ignored ear infections before due to not having the spare money for the ear drops so I know where you're coming from.

Hygge · 21/04/2018 07:17

If you get recurring thrush I think you're meant to see the GP aren't you?

Touch wood I haven't had this for a long time but I'm sure I remember reading that if you have repeated bouts of it you need to see a doctor. So don't worry about taking up an appointment someone else needs. If you have a recurring issue, you need the appointment.

If you're getting thrush because of your medication and you're seeing the doctor to get the medication anyway, can you ask during that appointment if they can also give you a seperate prescription for thrush treatment as the medication makes you prone to it?

Then you can either hold onto the prescription until you need it, or use it immediately if you are in need right then.

Sirzy · 21/04/2018 07:17

So now you are saving money, still getting the treatment you need yet you want more from the stretched nhs?

If you can get it otc then brilliant get it otc and don’t waste nhs time and money

NaughtyRed82 · 21/04/2018 07:18

I read something the other day that said there was going to be changed in what doctors will prescribe now (UK here) and that lots of the over the counter type medications won't be included anymore such as paracetamol and hay fever medicines etc thrush cream could well have been one of the things on the list too

Teenagemaw · 21/04/2018 07:20

It could be your medications causing the thrush. Ask your gp to put it on repeat for when you need it and you wont be wastijg an appointment then.

NailsNeedDoing · 21/04/2018 07:24

I think it's fine for you to use the pre pay certificate to get medication you need. Like you said, you're still paying for it, just differently.

I don't see hoards of comfortable pensioners, pregnant women and parents clambering to pay for prescriptions that they are told they don't have to pay for, so why should this be any different? If you can save appointments by getting telephone consultations or a repeat prescription that you can order when you need for things like thrush then that would be good, and you would be making a fair effort to save NHS resources, but I really don't think you have any reason to feel guilty for using something you are paying for.

GnotherGnu · 21/04/2018 07:26

Why would you be loathed? Who would loathe you?

Lacucuracha · 21/04/2018 07:29

OP, now you have the annual prescription, so you won't waste more money on prescription charges for your chronic condition.

Is the cost of Canesten going to break you financially? What other ailments do you have?

Lacucuracha · 21/04/2018 07:31

Why would you be loathed? Who would loathe you?

Gnu, 'I am loathed to' means 'I am reluctant to'.

Itsallpropaganda · 21/04/2018 07:32

Your gp be happy to do a prescription over the phone, mine has previously. You do not need to beat yourself up for getting meds on prescription when you've paid the annual charge.

KitKatCHA · 21/04/2018 07:34

You can get thrush treatment under the minor ailments scheme in my area of you are entitled to free prescriptions. Prepay comes under this. No need to see the GP, you just go into the pharmacy and ask for it

NeedForBlossom · 21/04/2018 07:35

lacucuracha no, it should be 'I am loath to'.

Loathed means hated.

Op, YABU.

counterpoint · 21/04/2018 07:35

If you have a chronic condition it would make you more prone to becoming ill anyway. So you would need more medication. You are exactly the sort of person the NHS is there for.
See the GP about every single thing that bothers you. Get them to make your life more comfortable.
It's the job of this government to find the money for what services this country needs.

e1y1 · 21/04/2018 07:38

I’m usually the first the raise a brow at someone who would get a prescription for something they could easily get otc (I’m actually “fortunate” enough to have a condition which makes me medically exempt from paying for any prescription, but I still spend a fortune on otc stuff).

However, in your case, I don’t think YABU, if you really are constantly having to buy otc thrush treatment, then obviously something is wrong somewhere and you need to speak to the doctor regarding it, thrush is getting harder and harder to treat effectively.

NHS website says if you get thrush more than twice in any 6 month period or if treatment isn’t working, then you need to see a GP. Even though it is NOT classed as a sexually transmitted infection a sexual health clinic can also deal with thrush instead of GP.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/thrush-in-men-and-women/

Nanna50 · 21/04/2018 07:43

I have a medical exemption and it has never entered my head to ask for a prescription for anything I can buy over the counter. My prescriptions have always been for the meds I need that can't be bought.

Paying a monthly fee doesn't give you carte blanch to everything that is in the chemist, however should you not be seeing your GP? Is the thrush connected with your chronic condition or medication? Perhaps you need other treatment rather than Canistan and the GP can tackle the problem.

You may not need an appointment once the GP knows you have an issue, just a repeat prescription.

Ledkr · 21/04/2018 07:43

I think it's fine to get what you are able to on prescription.
The free prescription thing needs looking at anyway.
I had to pay for all my med when I had cancer and ds has paid for years despite having kidney failure and subsequent transplant. Me for at least 5 years and ds his whole adult life.
Yet my mum and sister get all there free for thyroid issues.
Not right surely.

Shelvesoutofbooks · 21/04/2018 07:48

Sex health clinic will also give you Thrush treatment but there is alsona groupon offer for It www.groupon.co.uk/deals/thrush-treatment-clotrimazole-fluconazole-4

UrbiEtOrbi · 21/04/2018 07:50

You say you don't want to waste your GPs time or waste NHS resources. I think you have your answer there.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 21/04/2018 07:55

YANBU. It's not as though it's a box of paracetamol you can buy for 19p.

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