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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask, PLEASE, if you take any medication

123 replies

drinthehouse · 26/03/2019 18:02

always have an up to date list of your medication on your phone (because I’ve yet to see a patient who doesn’t have a phone with them).
I work in A&E. I can’t guess what medication you take if you tell me it’s oblong and orange and begins with a b. There are thousands of medications out there. I may not have access to your previous hospital notes, and your GP will only email me your medication list....most likely in 2 days time.
If every patient could manage to bring a list of their medication including doses (just take a photo of your repeat prescription), that alone would save the NHS thousands of pounds a year in time spent by doctors trying to find out what the purple round pill beginning with r is.
Please tell your friends. Take a picture of your granny’s meds on her phone, have a copy on your phone, put this on fb. And update it when your meds change. Please. Thank you (it’s been a long day).

OP posts:
FriedFoodFreud · 27/03/2019 07:24

Where in the app on an iPhone does it go? I can only see how to add height, weight, emergency contacts etc.

youknowmedontyou · 27/03/2019 07:26

I luckily don't take medication but if I'd when I do, I'll do this! Thank you!

FriedFoodFreud · 27/03/2019 07:26

Ignore me! Found it now, didn’t realise you have to press edit first.

BrusselPout · 27/03/2019 07:33

Thanks for the reminder, I've just updated mine (and my emergency contacts) on my phone.

Original poster
drinthehouse · 27/03/2019 07:34

sgtfred if you are on regular medication it gets issued as a repeat prescription (so you don’t have to go to the GP every month for a new prescription), often sent directly to a pharmacy from where you collect the medication; there should be a copy of what meds you are given in or attached to the bag. That’s a repeat prescription. gingerkitty you have been incredibly lucky. I have never heard of NHS 24 actually having access to your medical record. If you ever speak/see and out of hours service, it’s safe to assume they have no records about your health.

OP posts:
JessieMcJessie · 27/03/2019 07:38

I can’t believe the amount of snarky responses that OP has got for posting this excellent suggestion based on her own coalface experience. If you don’t think it’s practical for you then ignore, don’t attack her by ripping holes in her idea. Sheesh, MN is such a nest of vipers.

Thanks OP.

Rubberduckies · 27/03/2019 07:40

Yes OP! Some trusts can access some information from Gp's thought the summary care record. It usually has their medication and telephone number. I can count on one hand the ones which had actually medical history on. And a lot of people appear not to have consented to it being shared....

IWantMyHatBack · 27/03/2019 07:46

I suggest everyone who has a smartphone should Google and find out how to set their emergency info on their phone

you can list emergency contacts and any important medical info (medication, allergies etc).

This information can be accessed by anyone without unlocking your phone

I've just done this, thank you

Topseyt · 27/03/2019 07:48

I have just set up the emergency medical information on my android phone. I didn't even know it existed.

I have to agree that in this day and age it is disgraceful that there is no centralised NHS system for viewing what diagnoses and medications a patient has. It should be perfectly possible for hospital and GP computer systems to marry up from anywhere in the country.

BlackeyedGruesome · 27/03/2019 07:55

keep one on/in your fridge as well with allergies. for the paramedics.

hospitals: tell the difference between not prescribed by GP and not prescribed by a medical professional/other DR (eg dentists can prescribe some things, as can consultant at clinic, to obtain from hospital pharmacy)

AdvancedAvoider · 27/03/2019 07:58

We all have ours set up on our iPhones so all info can be accessed by anyone in an emergency.

I take immune suppressants so I want medical people to know this because it's vital information.

Verastsnhope · 27/03/2019 07:59

This is brilliant thank you. I’ve now done it. Filled in my organ donor status ( yes ) asthma and my private medical insurance details. Peace of mind and hopefully avoids any confusion or delays if the worst happens.

nokidshere · 27/03/2019 08:45

Wow I never knew you could do that, great idea. Have done mine now.

SgtFredColon · 27/03/2019 08:49

Thanks OP. I don’t get one of those, I have to call the GP every month for my repeat prescriptions and collect it and then go to pharmacy.

iDontShareChocolate · 27/03/2019 09:17

Just to add about the repeat slips.

Make sure they are up to date and correct especially if you just had a change in your meds because the surgery doesn't always change the repeat prescription slip to reflect that!

I worked in a pharmacy and we had lots of people complaining about how their surgery hadn't updated their list. I remember a gentleman collecting his medication bag from us, he opened it, took his repeat slip out, had a look and had a massive rant about how he had asked them over and over again to add his new tablets there and they hadn't!
Another patient had given up after a couple of tries of telling them and would simply write on the slip the tablets that weren't there when he was making a repeat request!
Another example that i have seen is patient having a meds review with the doctor. Doctor changed the strength, ie from 5mg patient was now down to 2.5 mg daily and again the repeat slip said 5mg.
Again, I have seen repeat slips with meds on them that patients have stopped taking by doctor's orders months but they still showed on the repeat slip!

So beware!

Prequelle · 27/03/2019 09:52

People saying 'why can't they access gp records for them'

They can (or some trusts can), but it's often a lengthy process that the pharmacy techs do when you get on a ward. In an emergent situation and with the speed of a&e, it's not doable plus might be a waste of time if you're discharged. After the pharmacy tech has made a list, a doctor then has to physically go on that list and go through it prescribing each medication and deciding if each one is safe in your current condition (and factoring in any diagnostics or treatments you may have). This is why it takes so much time. And that doesn't factor in the time needed to order it and get it from pharmacy.

Prequelle · 27/03/2019 09:54

bake ah are there really ambulance crews saying leave them?! That's so annoying. Would much rather they brought them because we get it in the neck if meds are delayed but if we don't have them as stock we don't have them do we. The only thing we don't like brought in is controlled drugs ha

Redglitter · 27/03/2019 10:15

I wonder if this varies from area to area. I'm in Scotland. The hospital I was admitted to - outwith surgery times - had all my prescription meds in my locker drawer within a couple of hours of me being admitted & they dispensed it to me in accordance with the prescriptions. They must have had access to some system that my GP uses

Rainbowjellies · 27/03/2019 10:37

The NHS did try to make a system where different health care providers, hospitals, GPs etc could access your medical notea anytime online. Patients complained that their notes could be hacked or stolen and they didn't want 'just anyone' to be able to read them, so it was scrapped.

Patients always know what's best.....

JaneEyre07 · 27/03/2019 10:44

I've got a clear silicone phone case on my mobile.... I carry a list of medication and that I'm diabetic in the back of mine, it's easily visible.

Could save precious time in an emergency. My dad is insulin dependent and has a medic alert bracelet, as does DH who is highly allergic to anti-tetanus serum.

Hearthside · 27/03/2019 10:46

I think this is a brilliant post OP.I already had put mine on my phone as i suffer from a rare pain condition so it would be need to be available for the person treating me to know.

timeisnotaline · 27/03/2019 10:48

I’m sure ivy has been told off several times but just to throw my oar in too, if you can describe its oblong and about 8mm and purple then it’s highly likely you are conscious ...
great idea op.

BeanTownNancy · 27/03/2019 12:45

Am 34 weeks pregnant and though I always have my maternity notes in my car, they are not always on my person so if I collapsed at work I might not have access to them, but my phone is always in close proximity to me. Have added Medical ID to my phone with my MRN for my local hospital (I won't be out of the area so that is sufficient), emergency contacts, allergies, due date etc.

Thanks OP!

needsleepzzz · 27/03/2019 13:54

Added to my Iphone medical info OP :-)

wonkylegs · 27/03/2019 16:12

I carry the medic alert card for my anti-tnf medication in my purse along with a list of my other drugs but as I don't always carry it I also have my medical id bit on my phone filled out.
I also have a list of my mums meds available to hand as I am her emergency contact. She doesn't carry it as she wouldn't take it out (dementia) but she has a medical id key ring with my contact details on it for emergencies which she can't take off and lose attached to her purse, her bag and another to her keys.