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

[itsme189]

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!

I think it's fair enough for the OP to get the cream on prescription for a longstanding condition when she needs lots of it.

I have an underactive thyroid which means I get free prescription. I don't take the piss, i don't go to my GP demanding cheap otc meds on prescription, (paracetamol, antihistamines etc) but I would in OPs situation.

I don't think it's privitisation though, it's CCG guidelines. I had an ultrasound recently. Itvwas organised by my GP as an NHS patient, but in a private clinic. Still had to wait 3 months though.

New prescribing guidelines are brought in periodically. They save the NHS a lot of money which is re-used for frontline care, but one of the biggest effects is the freeing up of GP appointments - it is estimated that 57 million appointments have been saved by this. The guidelines state that this is for minor and self limiting conditions only, and specifically:
"NHS England has said that the guidance will not apply to people with long-term or more complex conditions who will continue to get their usual prescriptions."

OP's description seems to indicate that this is a long-term and serious conditions. I would urge she challenge the doctor's decision, possibly with the help/recommendation of the pharmacist.

If the condition is long term, then the doctor can do one prescription for a whole year where the medication can be called off every 4 weeks from the pharmacist - which still saves work for the GP.

Incidentally, as someone mentioned earlier, The majority of GP's are, and always have been, private rather than NHS employees, as are dentists, opticians and pharmacists. "Free at the point of use" is the biggest lie of all.

What I resent is having to get a repeat prescription for a medication, that I have already been in for two decades and will likely be on for the rest of my life, on a monthly basis. Thanks Gordon.

@HazeyJaneII

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.

It doesn't fall down for most things though as the otc cost is lower than the prescription fee

@vimtosogood

What I resent is having to get a repeat prescription for a medication, that I have already been in for two decades and will likely be on for the rest of my life, on a monthly basis. Thanks Gordon.

Well yeah it would be a bit negligent to not check up regularly with long term medication.

@Crankley

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.

The PFI funded wards/units have often been empty for over a decade now as they cost so much to pay back they cannot afford to be staffed.

I'm amazed Labour supporters didn't eat them alive for it. But no its quietly forgotten about

You can get much cheaper unbranded eczema creams. It doesn't have to be the expensive one from Boots.

you should ask your pharmacist if there is a 'generic' version of the cream you previously had on prescription. They usually have an own-label product for way cheaper.

For instance, you can buy pot of emollient cream in boots. 150mls for £3.50

www.boots.com/boots-derma-care-daily-moisturising-cream-150ml-10114855

or 500mls for £8

www.boots.com/boots-derma-care-daily-moisturising-cream-500ml-10123648

Emollient creams like 'DoubleBase', 'Aveeno', and 'E45' are all just bog-standard moisturisers like Boots Dermacare but they're 'branded' products and very expensive to buy in comparison to the prices you pay for 'generic' creams. The NHS pays around three times the price you pay in Boots for, E45, Aveeno or Doublebase, when you will most likely be fine and dandy with Dermacare.

hope that helps.

But the NHS is funded by NI contributions
So medication should not be unaffordable to the NHS.
Governments have quietly been contracting out supplies. Probably for funding for fuck knows what but you'd just think why or how a tube of fucking cream should cost the NHS more than superdrug or boots can avail themselves of.

Sorry NHS care is affordable for everyone I meant!

@Mangofandangoo

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

She's already said she has a prepayment certificate.

@Monty27

But the NHS is funded by NI contributions So medication should not be unaffordable to the NHS. Governments have quietly been contracting out supplies. Probably for funding for fuck knows what but you'd just think why or how a tube of fucking cream should cost the NHS more than superdrug or boots can avail themselves of.

Western countries tend to pay over the rrp for medications to subsidise their sale in poorer economies. (Its hard to sell something affordably in developing nations when your manufacturing is in the UK, USA or Europe with high costs)

OP - I would google your local CCG and emollients and/or aveeno to find out the local position on prescribing emollients -to see if you should have been offered a similar cheaper emollient on prescription by your GP.

Ever since the introduction of dental charges in 1950 there has been a private element to the NHS. It's a matter of degree, and Jeremy Hunt in his six years as Secretary of State increased the level. Of concern also is what is being privatised, or will be under this government who are here until 2024 or maybe longer.

Like the OP I have had medication not prescribed, though in my case it was because the generic drug cost less than the prescription charge.

Probably already been mentioned but 70 GP surgeries have been taken over by a US health insurance company www.google.com/amp/s/insidecroydon.com/2021/03/08/seven-gp-practices-in-croydon-taken-over-by-us-health-giant/amp/

[quote Catford]Probably already been mentioned but 70 GP surgeries have been taken over by a US health insurance company www.google.com/amp/s/insidecroydon.com/2021/03/08/seven-gp-practices-in-croydon-taken-over-by-us-health-giant/amp/[/quote]
This is not privatisation. It is one private company (Centene) buying another private company (AT Medics) thus adding 43 GP practices to their portfolio which now totals 70. As stated earlier, the majority of GP's are, and always have been, private rather than NHS, as are dentists, opticians and pharmacists.