Would it be wrong of me to do this?

[Happyland8]

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.

Another one to say if you get recurring thrush you need to see your GP. I work in a GP surgery in Wales, free prescriptions, and a GP will not continue to issue scripts for thrush without being seen.

Ignore those "how dare you" posters above.

Using a prepay for a packet of paracetamol because you have a headache is a different matter though .

Look at it this way, you’ve saved a lot of money with the prepay. Hopefully not all of the savings will be used for the OTC so you’ll still be spending less cash than otherwise.

Ledkr

No it isn’t really right, and there have been many threads on here regarding it. I really can’t understand why Asthma isn’t in the exemption (which I also have).

If you are getting occasional thrush- e.g. after taking antibiotics, then you should use OTC. If it is recurrent thrush you should see your GP (I'm a Dr) to rule out simple cause such as medication, often things like diabetes need to be ruled out too. Swabs may be useful to check it is thrush and not something else (also useful if OTC treatments aren't working... it may be because you are treating the wrong thing).

If it is recurrent thrush, sometimes you may need to use a short course of pessaries or oral anti fungal medication- occasionally prolonged course over 3-6 months is required for particularly persistent candidiasis. Your GP can prescribe this if necessary. However, for occasional thrush (if you know it is that), then I think it would be a bit of a waste of an appointment.

There is a strong push for GPs not to prescribe medications such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines available over the counter and so on. It actually costs the NHS far more for some of these prescriptions than it costs you to buy generic paracetamol, for instance (sometimes upwards of 10 x more). Some areas are removing these from the GP formulary to make it very difficult for GPs to prescribe these things even if they want to. More so in parts of the UK where scripts are free, as their is a lot of money spent on routine OTC medications.

you don’t need to buy branded canesten at £10. pharmacies and supermarkets often sell their own version which is pretty much the same for a few pounds. but i agree with asking for it to be put on repeat too.

If you have recurrent thrush you need to see a GP - you shouldn't be buying OTC regularly for it anyway. So no I don't think YABU.

I agree you should get the benefit of the prescription fee you have paid OP. If the NHS sets up a system like this then there must be an expectation that people will use an annual prescription like this.

FWIW many medication, probably including your canestan, can be prescribed by the practice nurse or ask for a repeat prescription because you should not need to see the doctor every time.

In my area pharmacies can prescribe for a range of minor ailments which is then signed off by a form signed by the receptionist at the doctors surgery, might be worth checking if your local area has something similar. It's a godsend and I think everywhere should do it.

I have an exemption certificate, but would buy something such as thrush treatment otc however as yours is recurring I think you need to speak to your GP and try and get it sorted.

Do you ask for brand names or the product name, If you ask for clotrimazole rather than Canesten it costs less. Or, website called Chemist Direct which sells things considerably cheaper than pharmacies.

If you have a recurrent condition that you would usually see a GP for, continue to do so and have the prescription on your prepaid card. Coughs and colds medication and anything where you are self-treating, buy over the counter.

I’m guessing that the prepaid card has advantages for the NHS too, in that they have a fixed prepaid amount which they can include in their planned budget - a bit like National Trust membership.

I wouldn’t worry, it doesn’t sound like you are abusing it.

I wouldn't make a GP appointment specifically for it but I would ask at one of your review appointmsnts for a thrush meds prescription so you have some some in the cupboard for next time.

I'm sorry you don't get free prescriptions for your medical condition. I do (hypothyroid) and it's bizarre they come free for everything else too. The system's an ass. Many many years ago a super physician when I was diagnosed (Sir Richard Bayliss) said "this shouldn't cause you too much inconvenience, a blood test and a prescription for 365 tablets a year which are as cheap as cheap as chips with a long shelf life. In nearly 30 years the dose has remained unchanged and about 20 years ago they introduced 28 day prescribing for all. 84 now for me. How to waste time and print money. No wonder drs feel over worked.

There is no reason on this earth that I should have anything other than levothyroxine free. Compare with my DD who needs three prescriptions six times a year and who is a student and the system really starts to suck.

OTH having paid shedloads of tax the NHS provided nada when dd was ill (No MH provision for young people) so a part of me feels that the odd free prescription is a fraction of what I've put in and it serves them right.

Also with regard to "just put it on repeat": there are a small number of patients for whom this makes sense. For everyone else, most Dr's would be reluctant. If it is so recurrent that it needs to be on monthly repeat, you need to treat for persistent, recurrent candidiasis to eradicate it or treat the underlying cause. Just putting it on repeat is not the best way to manage it. It's not really helping the patient and it's wasting money. Also you could end up with patients treating what they think is thrush inappropriately, when it isn't.

I'm sure you'll find some Dr's who will put it on repeat, and as I said there are some patients for whom this is appropriate, but it shouldn't be done routinely.

In my area pharmacies can prescribe for a range of minor ailments which is then signed off by a form signed by the receptionist at the doctors surgery, might be worth checking if your local area has something similar. It's a godsend and I think everywhere should do it.

It was stopped in this area recently thankfully. Too many people where abusing it meaning the cost got out of hand. Same reason as many areas are looking at the way they prescribe medicines which are available otc too I guess.

I may go against the grain here, but if you having regular thrush outbursts it would be advisable to go to the go and get it investigated if you don’t know the cause of it. If you are sticking to the obvious washing with unscented products, cotton underwear changing pads regularly (if you use them), there may be something else causing the thrush, or it could be something else that “looks” like it but isn’t.

But Ledkr if you are under going cancer treatment you are entitled to a medical exemption card. DH has one.

OP yabu, if you are suffering from recurrent thrush then go to the GP and get it treated properly rather than wanted them to pay for repeated treatment. I have an exemption and wouldn’t expect things like that to be paid for me.

If you buy the generic equivalent of canesten it will be a lot cheaper. Google “clotrimazole”.

And yes, what you are suggesting would be wrong and demonstrates a lack of integrity. If such behaviour ( ie selfish, and totally self centred) sits well with you, then consider why public services are so overstretched. And the, “everyone else does it” won’t wash either. You can’t control what others do, but you can do the morally right and socially responsible thing yourself.

HTH

Check what other ways of contacting your gp there are on the practice website, there are usually various options eg online consultations, telephone appointments, email, each practice is different, then ask for a repeat prescription. If all else fails write an old fashioned letter.

Happyland

Please go to your GP, remind them about recurring thrush & see what other options they can suggest - you need to treat the cause, not the symptoms when it’s recurring.

I have a health condition that makes me susceptible to thrush. If I get it, nothing except cutting out all carbs (other than from vegetable & dairy) sorts it out. If you can, maybe try that, I find it takes about 5 days to be completely clear, but it’s noticibly better after 2 days.

It’s part of your health conditions, it’s not just an occasional bout. It’s not necessary to buy over the counter products if your GP can prescribe you something to treat something that occurs because of your other health conditions x

You’ll probably find your GP won’t prescribe it anyway OP as many practices are now restricted and not allowed to prescribe items that you can purchase over the counter.

YANBU. Get that repeat prescription.

YANBU, if its a recurrent thing, and its not as if its just a couple of pounds, Dr above has said see your GP so do

I have recurrent thrush (I am a type 1 diabetic). I don't think people understand how miserable it is if they haven't had it constantly.

I was spending £60 at least a month on treatment. I went to the GP and they have now given it to me on repeat prescription. I didn't feel I was wasting anyone'a time.

So I'd say go for it. They will probably do a swab to confirm it's thrush first.

@croprotationinthe13thcentury - so what you are saying is that there are loads of old biddies and baby boomers costing the NHS for appointments they don't need because they could see the pharmacist for their piles and minor ailments? And you are encouraging the OP to abuse the system in a similar way rather than go to the pharmacist and buy medication OTC?

The medical certificates are there to help with the costs of repeat prescriptions. They're not to ensure that people who have them get all OTC medication for free. That's taking the p*ss.

And can we stop encouraging the OP to milk the NHS for all it's worth?

Exactly what Step away said!!!

I dont see any difference between milking these cards and milking the system like the older generation do with their needless appointments which are born of entitlement.