To ask if you would report this to the practice manager

[Sevendaysaweek]

Dn usually gets two weeks worth of medication from our gp. She’s told me that some times the GP issue the proscription a week or even 9 days earlier. This leads to her having more medications than she should have. I’m worried they may be putting other vulnerable people at risk as surely they know when they last issued one.

You are posting a lot about your niece.

Is there something in particular happening at the moment that is triggering your anxiety?

If the GP thought she was an overdose risk, she would be on weekly collections and allowed no more tha that.

OP, I mean this nicely, you have posted several threads lately railing against medical professionals and your dn s treatment, are YOU getting any help while you support her?
Iirc she was a hospital inpatient this week? Is that still the case?
I have been where you are, wanting to take over the world and fight everyone whilst caring for a mentally ill family member (self harm, depression etc) and it is exhausting!
Just be there for your dn and please believe no one is out to get you or her or make life harder.
Fwiw I m on ADs myself and always get the prescription early, they are trying to make sure people dont run out due to covid.
It s potentially very damaging to stop taking medication abruptly.

Op Your posts I think are coming from a real place of caring. If you switched DN to DD I think people would be a bit more understanding.

That said - I do think you are focusing on the wrong things - you’re looking for someone to blame, and posting in Aibu.

I think perhaps you need more support - try the mental health board and perhaps reframe things to see if you can find others with experiences that have helped in similar situations

If your niece is still an inpatient you should express your concerns to the nurse responsible for her care.

It's good it is signed and processed early to ensure there's never a delay, surely the issue is with it being picked up early. Does your DN pick it up herself? Does someone else collect for her?

If there is a mental health team involved she should have a risk assessment with regard to medication. The team can then liaise with the GP for weekly or fortnightly prescriptions if that is more appropriate.

The pharmacy can keep it back and just release it when required if it's flagged as a risk, I wouldn't be looking to disrupt the processing though by the Dr.

@DryRoastPeanut I thought 4 weeks worth was the norm. I'm on warfarin indefinitely and can only get 4 weeks at a time.

I’m a GP.
You’re right OP, this shouldn’t happen , especially is someone is a suicide risk. The computer system shouldn’t allow meds to be issued that early. I would raise the issue.

At the moment , both our GP and our local pharmacy are experiencing some difficulties regarding repeat prescriptions due to covid, and both have adjusted their normal practices to cope.

If she wanted to overdose she could easily do it without the extra week of medication. leave this alone, she’s not a child

Surely you don't have to pick them up until they are needed?

I was a bit amazed in January when my DS (18 at the time) had tonsillitis and as well as the antibiotics, he was given 112 Naproxen and 100 co-codamol all in one go

@mintychoc1 there are places where this happens without having to request a repeat then?

Can you explain how this is working op?

I also have fortnightly meds, but I put in my repeat request myself and then collect from the pharmacy when I need them.

How are they getting to your niece? Through the post? Can she give them to you to look after. She might be an adult but it's perfectly ok for someone to assist her managing her meds - a mature thing to do in fact.

In general though, maybe she can raise it with the Gp?

I've had the pharmacy comment on my 2 weekly collection and I hate it - draws attention to me.

My pharmacy are suggesting people order 7 days in advance to ensure there are no delays in them getting their prescriptions.

But what is the medication she's getting? Most medications even if you get the standard month at a time are risky if you took your whole supply at once. We can't give meds on a day by day basis incase people randomly overdose. So it there any more risk between 4 weeks and 6 weeks of medication?

The go could issue post-dated prescriptions where the prescription is printed say on the 5th and sent to the pharmacy but is dated for the 12th so cannot be issued to the patient before that date. More than one prescription can be issued at the same time, say a months worth but dated for the 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd, this means that only one week at a time can be collected and they can't be picked up early.

Friday, the op posted her niece was likely to be one 7 day prescriptions, and was concerned about the amount of extra work this causes gps. Now she's got too many but doesn't explain how this happens.

Very odd.

@housemdwaswrong

Friday, the op posted her niece was likely to be one 7 day prescriptions, and was concerned about the amount of extra work this causes gps. Now she's got too many but doesn't explain how this happens.

Very odd.

it seems all very complicated doesn't it?

@Sparklingbrook I know, I'm aware it's not good form to search post history, but op you have posted lots of posts re various members of your family and you who all seem to have grievances against the gp, receptionist, pharmacy...

@sparklingbrook sometimes it's necessary, that can't have changed since Friday, so most odd. Don't care if people search my posting history, in this case I think it was justified.

[quote housemdwaswrong]@sparklingbrook sometimes it's necessary, that can't have changed since Friday, so most odd. Don't care if people search my posting history, in this case I think it was justified.[/quote]
I think it is @housemdwaswrong op has posted about her DS, herself, and her dn, but I don't think has ever stated if they knew she was 'campaigning' for them!

What’s the root of the massive chip on your shoulder about doctors, OP?

How does your niece feel about your constant involvement and posting on a public forum about her personal health problems? What form would she prefer your support to take?

It will be very difficult for a practice manager to respond to your ‘concern’ about a patient whose medical and prescription records are confidential.

But I suspect you’re well-versed in such complaints and so know that already.

She's 18. Nothing you can do.