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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think the NHS is being privatised under our noses?

66 replies

itsme189 · 08/03/2021 17:36

Today my doctor informed me that the eczema cream I use can no longer be prescribed as you can buy it in boots. Looked into it and the doctors got told off by NHS and CCG for prescribing something that can be bought over the counter. They won't even prescribe it to children or the elderly.

This cream is £11 a bottle and it lasts me 5 days because I need to apply it 4 times a day and apply a lot of it as per doctors instructions. I have had this for years and pay for a yearly prescription thing as I am on lots of creams for severe eczema. I can JUST afford it but what if I couldn't? Or a child's parents couldn't? Without this cream my skin burns constantly and cracks from dryness and becomes infected this once lead to sepsis and I was in hospital for weeks.

I'm sure this won't be the only medication as you can buy lots over the counter. This is a sneaky way of privatizing health care. I'm going to complain etc but I was wondering if anyone else had anything similar?

Please note I was completely fine with the doctor he was just doing his job and he wasn't happy he couldn't prescribe it. This is above the actual day to day people in the NHS!

OP posts:
haveapieceoftoast · 08/03/2021 18:08

this also has nothing to do with privatisation?!

QueenOfTheDoubleWide · 08/03/2021 18:08

I think your GP has not explained this well.

CCGs have issued advice on items that should not be prescribed but it is not simply because you can buy them over the counter, it is because, either clinical evidence shows inadequate benefit to justify spending on these products, or there are equivalent products that could do the same thing which cost the NHS far less.

I'm guessing the cream you have been refused is an emollient cream. Certain branded ones are not recommended but there are alternative emollients which can be issued and the GP could have offered you one of those to try. An example of that would be something like Aveeno which is advertised to the public and relatively expensive compared to Aproderm which is identical, not advertised and far cheaper

It is also weighed into the decision what the condition is that it is being prescribed for so, for example, a GP might prescribe paracetamol for a patient with a chronic pain condition who needs to take 8 a day on an ongoing basis but would decline for someone who wants it when required for occasional headaches.

All of us working in the NHS are conscious that funds are limited, budgets are stretched and we have a duty of good stewardship unless the public want to pay more tax, purely to fund more expensive or non-essential items on prescription

Pebbles16 · 08/03/2021 18:13

It's not privatisation, it is a redeployment of resources, which doesn't make it easier for you.

HazeyJaneII · 08/03/2021 18:18

Yes parts of the NHS is being privatised under our noses...

...but I don't think that is what this is....

...however, it is appalling that you can't get the cream that manages your eczema on prescription any more. We have had similar I the past, but fortunately found an alternative. Surely the argument that you can buy it OTC falls down when you can buy loads of prescription remedies OTC!

Was it Aveeno by any chance? I know this was on the list of recent items taken off prescriptions.

Hope you can find a solution.

UhtredRagnarson · 08/03/2021 18:20

Surely he has to prescribe something? So what did he prescribe instead?

Haenow · 08/03/2021 18:20

YANBU in your situation but there were too many people being prescribed very cheap drugs that cost the NHS a bomb.

butterfly990 · 08/03/2021 18:20

In Dublin 7 years ago I was paying full price for any prescribed drugs to a ceiling of €75/month. This was also payable on children's prescription.

This was on top of the €50 GP appointment.

LunaHeather · 08/03/2021 18:23

@itsme189

Okay maybe not an example of privatisation then but do you all think this situation is okay?
I have several health conditions

I have the PPC and have to pay for other stuff.

I think it's fine. We can't afford the NHS. we might if we used it properly - I'd rather it was stripped to basics.

But yes, I think it's fine. The taxpayer can't pick up the bill for everyone's bad luck with health. Christ knows what I've cost from 0 - 45.

Crankley · 08/03/2021 18:25

Stealth privatisation of the NHS has been going on for years, with Covid and the Tories in expect it will gain pace

War criminal Blair introduced privatisation by PFI in the NHS which resulted in hospitals paying billions more than the cost and value of the new buildings. If you didn't know I suggest you google.

I haven't seen any stealth privatisation by this Government. I haven't paid to see my GP or nurse, nor my consultant, nor a hospital stay so what does this stealth privatisation consist of? Apart from prescriptions, what have you paid for? I am really interested to know.

I assume it's the usual left wing brain washed response to everything.

MummytoCSJH · 08/03/2021 18:45

'The taxpayer can't pick up the bill for everyone's bad luck with health.' Eh? So what would you like to happen then? People just die because they can't afford certain medications? The OPs lack of eczema cream may seem unlikely to kill them but they have explained how it can easily lead to an often fatal condition. There are many instances of people going without insulin they need in other countries because they could not afford it. Do you think that is fine? I take painkillers 24/7 - you can't buy them otc so does not apply to me but for example - and if I had to pay so would not be able to afford the amount I need. I would probably kill myself at worse due to the pain, and at best not be able to work or take care of myself or son son. I would cost the state a lot more if I could not get my medication prescribed/for free.

Pulledamonica · 08/03/2021 18:49

People should be prescribed the medication they need. End of.

HelpMeh · 08/03/2021 18:55

Is there a cheaper generic version of this cream you buy over the counter or online instead? The mark up on branded medications can be astounding.

jobbeedancer · 08/03/2021 18:55

The replies on here are crazy!
It's ridiculous you haven't had this prescribed! You suffer with a condition through no fault of your own.
Thanks

UhtredRagnarson · 08/03/2021 18:58

The taxpayer can't pick up the bill for everyone's bad luck with health.

But that’s exactly what the NHS was started for. So people were able to access medical care even if they couldn’t pay the cost of it. And it was to be paid for by taxes.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 08/03/2021 19:06

That isnt true. The NHS funds lots of things you can buy over the counter, where they are medically needed and the over counter price is prohibitive. Explain you can't afford it.
But do also check what's actually in the cream. Often over counter medicines there are generic (unbranded) versions of the same thing available for a fraction of the cost.

What's the active ingredient in the cream?

CrazyBatLady66 · 08/03/2021 19:12

I would double check this is the case that they are no longer able to prescribe it, with either CCG (Clinical commissioning group ) or a pharmacist as I’ve had this where my doctors have decided they aren’t prescribing things any more because they are too expensive and its to do with their budget not prescription rules. Also you could check with Eczema UK this is the case. We tax payers pay for the NHS and you’re pre paying for your prescriptions as well. It’s disgraceful but this is what people voted for with Brexit, it’s not going to get better,

CrazyBatLady66 · 08/03/2021 19:15

Also if you post on here what the cream is called maybe someone else has had a similar experience or knows differently. For the people who are saying why should the NHS pick up the bill, Google NHS, you obviously haven’t got a clue what it’s there for and who pays for it,

DavidDuchovnysRedPants · 08/03/2021 19:23

NHS services are being sold off to the cheapest bidder left, right and centre, regardless of whether they will provide the best service.

And yes, CCG's are basically banning the prescribing of certain medications. While paracetamol may be cheap OTC, you can only buy 32 tablets at a time. Which is 4 days worth for someone taking 8 a day. I take them for chronic pain, and used to be able to get a prescription for 200. Now, every other weekend I have to travel round numerous shops trying to buy enough. And god forbid there is a run on them and the shelves are bare.
Vitamin D is another. I have to take a fairly massive dose. Tablets of that strength aren't cheap.

GreenWillow · 08/03/2021 19:32

The NHS isn't here to subsidise you financially though OP, it is precisely because it is being abused in this way that it needs to be privatised.

If you can buy something over the counter then of course you should do so.

Obbydoo · 08/03/2021 19:34

The answer to your question is no. The public perception, probably driven by media propaganda, is that we are increasingly selling off the NHS but the truth is that there has been minimal change over the last few years. The Kings Fund, which is an independent think tank that specialises in healthcare, has recently published a paper on this and they said there is little change. If you look at some if the other fact checking sites that don't have a political bias, you'll see the same thing. Both labour and conservative governments have utilised private companies within the NHS but the facts suggest that neither party is any more encouraging of private sector than the other.

ramblingmum · 08/03/2021 19:34

GP practices have been private since the creation of the NHS

Mangofandangoo · 08/03/2021 19:37

Surely your prescription charge is basically the same as the moisturiser would cost you to buy anyway?

LApprentiSorcier · 08/03/2021 19:47

@Mangofandangoo

Surely your prescription charge is basically the same as the moisturiser would cost you to buy anyway?
No - the OP has a prepayment card. You buy a pre-payment card for a period up to a year. A year costs £105.90 and this covers all your prescriptions, no matter how much they cost (so it works out cheaper if you need more than 11 items in a year, because a single prescription item is £9.15).

So the OP has already paid a fixed price to cover her prescriptions for the whole year and shouldn't have cost her anything more.

ShadesOfMagenta · 08/03/2021 21:56

@DavidDuchovnysRedPants - the pharmacy can sell you more in one go if you explain - especially if they have the records of when you were prescribed 200 from your GP - you will need to speak to the pharmacist not the pharmacy assistant

WhereverIlaymyhat2021 · 08/03/2021 22:09

How on earth is this privatisation you idiot! Sorry but honestly 😂.

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