To complain about my drs, for only prescribing medication for 28 days

[Lardlizard]

Then when I say I need two months worth because of a holiday they have given two separate prescriptions.... rather than 46 tabs

At my surgery the system is set up only to allow a month at a time but I did have a locum who ignored it and gave me two. Obviously it doesn't matter to them to stick to the rules in the same way as it does for the permanent staff.

Surely it must depend on what the medication is?

I get mine in 3 month and 6 month lots respectively.

Well I almost made a complaint about them last time but didn’t bother because I didn’t really want to spend my time on it
This was regarding a different issue
Basically then handing out a prescription to my husband not explaining to him this would be an on going thing that he would need to order another prescription, bearing in mind dh has never had any repeat medication before so he would have just took 28 then not gone back for anymore
So it wasn’t explained to him that he was being put on something that he would need to stay on
For quite a long time
And other things liek not being able to drink wasn’t explained either
So very unprofessional so I almost complained then
But thought leave it, haven’t got the time and now this so was already annoyed with them anyway for their unprofesional ways

Also it’s not actually on two separate
Prescriptions, it’s one form so one prescription written out twice, for for example

28x tablet x

28x tablet x

So seems to have been deliberately on purpose to be awkward

Your husband is an adult. He is responsible for checking how long he is taking the meds and having a reasonable understanding of his illness. I am sure the Gp would have given him plenty information at the appointment? Also the labels on all medication will say check with doctor before discontinuing and will give a time frame if the medication is not long term ie Take 1 tablet 3 times a day for 7 days .

It's not deliberately awkward at all - there are two items on the script, meaning you will pay £18 (the prescription charge × 2). Otherwise you're not paying your fair share of the cost.

The other thing, that a PP mentioned, is that some medication is tightly controlled and should only be prescribed in one-month supplies - e.g. certain antidepressants, many types of painkiller.

Just read your update surely the pharmacy will just dispense 2 boxes of the same medication in that case?you're making a mountain out of a molehill and being quite spiteful towards your GP who really hasn't done anything wrong??

you sound hard work.....and a bit entitled!

they aren't being awkward!

Yeah, they’re definitely doing it to annoy you.....

I have a baby with reflux, he gets one box of 30 sachets of infant Gaviscon, he uses six sachets a day I am currently battling to get them to up his prescription to reflect the number of sachets he needs so I am not having to go to the surgery every 5 days to pick up a repeat.

Yes, yabu. HTH

You almost complained because your husband didn't listen to the doctor or ask any questions when been given medication, and now you want to complain because your form says 28x twice instead of 56x once? Really? Why is that an issue?

Surely you husband knew if the medication was on going or not. Because he knows if his conditions is going or not.

Why would he believe something would eb cured in 28 days? If that's not the case.

What you mean is, you wanted more tablets for one precscription price. And you cant do that so you got 2 prescriptions.

You tried to play the system and it didnt work, because of the way it works. So now you want to create the doctor an issue

If the 2 items are on the same form you should only pay once. The same drug, in the same form (even if different doses) should be one charge.

I'm a dispenser. Two of the same item on the same piece of paper and you will pay one charge.

Not 2 prescriptions 2 items. Both which need to be paid separately.

There are 28 pills in an item. So 2 items are listed. It's standard. The dr isn't being awkward at all.

How old are you?

If your husband was prescribed ongoing medication there will have been a review date printed on the prescription. It's not the doctor's fault if your husband fails to take some personal responsibility.

plus there was another issue I can even be bothered to explain on here, it’s not about how many charges not like we can’t afford it
It’s more about them being awkward and unprofessional
He did not hve anything explained about this medication at all he wasn’t told it would be an ongoing thing
And he wasn’t told he’s been put on a repeat
He wasn’t told not to drink
He would have just took 28 and then thought. That was the end of it

@Lardlizard obviously I'm not going to ask you to tell us what his condition is but he must know whether it's ongoing or easily cureable

This is why I want to leave medicine...trip advisor complaints that take ages to respond to so we can't do our job. It really is getting pathetic.
Re 2 x28 scrips being awkward...no...your selected the repeat option once and then a second time. To make one for 56 tablets means you have to enter in the prescription from scratch which is extra time we don't have and it increases errors.
I sometimes do double scripts for patients and it is far less time consuming to issue the original script twice than do a new one.

Really OP give us a break or no one will want to go into general practice.

It will say on the patient information leaflet if there are any contraindications - ie. He shouldn't drink.

You are finding fault where there isn't any.

Depends on what the medication is.

Many are now “controlled” due to the addictive nature of those particular drugs - not only in order to monitor patients but also to ensure they’re not then sold on to others, which is ALSO to protect the patient from being pressured/coerced into obtaining them for another to sell which sadly does happen.

Some don’t have a long “shelf life” once they’re made up, not just suspensions but even some that come in capsule form.

Another reason is to guard against od damage, lots of antidepressants are very harmful if od’d on and by their nature are prescribed to people at higher risk of taking an od.

Were you actually with your husband when he was prescribed the meds you claim he wasn’t told he’d need to take continually or not to drink alcohol on them? Because if not you cannot know that he wasn’t told this and either plain forgot or wasn’t paying attention - very common. PLUS the patient information leaflets contained with every prescribed medication would ALSO have said about no alcohol and very likely the packaging/prescription label said so too.

They’re NOT being awkward for the sake of it, they’ll be following guidelines set by the local health authority/Ccg/nice

Regarding cost perhaps you may find it useful to look up the ACTUAL cost of the meds you and dh are getting. You might find it interesting.

Bear in mind the cost of the medication doesn't include admin, management and storage costs.

If he’s not supposed to drink on it wouldn’t that have been printed in the label on the box?

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill - Bloody hell OP. Are you sure he just didn't listen to the doctor which I would think is more likely.

I have been on medication all my life and still have to collect my prescription once a month. This is the norm. It is because (1) They don't want to be responsible for anyone overdosing and also (2) If your prescription is changed that would be a waste as even if you send it back it cant be re-used and probably plenty of other good reasons.