AIBU to think the GP just needs to issue the prescription?

[lawandgin]

Not sure if this is an AIBU, but donning my hard hat and posting anyway.

DD is 4 months old and has suffered terrible reflux since she was a newborn. We're all getting through 3+ sets of clothes a day, I'm constantly worried about how much milk she's actually keeping down and it's very stressful all round. For context, she was small for gestational age weighing 5lb 8oz when she was delivered at 38+3. She lost 8% of her birth weight and took over 3 weeks to regain it.

Just over a week ago, we ended up in A&E when she just would not stop screaming. I'm talking 7 hours. The long and short of it was that they thought it was a delayed reaction to her 16 week vaccinations, but the doctor said we needed more support with her reflux and that she likely had CMPA. Knowing that she wouldn't be a priority on the NHS as she's gaining weight and there's a several month long waiting list to see a paediatrician, I paid to see a private paediatrician the two days later. He confirmed he thought she had CMPA and needed dairy free milk and also omeprazole to treat the reflux. We happened to have some dairy free milk left over from a previous trial, so were able to put her straight on that and we saw a huge improvement in some of the other symptoms, but the reflux remains. The doctor prescribed omeprazole privately and wrote to the GP and asked them to continue the prescription.

The pharmacy ordered the omeprazole off the back of the private prescription, but it's £400 for a six week supply. I requested an NHS prescription for the same on Wednesday, chased it twice on Friday (each time being told it would be done that day - their turnaround time is 2 days) and it STILL hasn't been done. The doctors haven't phoned me to explain the delay and neither we nor the pharmacy can understand what they're playing at. I have a sinking feeling they're going to refuse the prescription due to the price and I'm ready to do battle with them on Tuesday as DD needs this medication and we simply can't afford £400 every six weeks. Especially as I'm only on SMP and with bills going through the roof.

So....AIBU to think the GP is out of order for not completing the prescription within their specified time frame and AIBU to think they shouldn't refuse to prescribe it at all (as I am anticipating)? Bonus points for tips on how I might tackle the conversation with them!

Actually I did read the whole thread - if you are like this with your GP team they will not be bending over backwards to help you.

Sometimes you have to give things a bit longer. Wish I had bothered trying to give you helpful advice now and reassure you that things will get better.

@olympicsrock if you'd read the full thread, why were you suggesting things that I'd already said didn't work? That's not helpful at all. But thanks anyway 👍 we've been trying all other measures in various combinations for 4 months. I think we've all suffered enough now.

I'm worrying about ulterior motives @Pinkdelight3 because I've since heard from others that GP may be resistant to issue of the back of a private script and I'm worried and asked for tips on how to deal with this. MN is amazing for hearing about collective experiences, but as you'll have seen from the thread, experiences vary wildly and I personally don't think that's how it should be 🤷‍♀️ if I ignored a client for 3 days in my job, I'd be facing a professional complaint and the firm certainly wouldn't be getting paid. I don't see why it's any different to be honest.

Honestly, I understand your troubles. I'm trying to be reassuring. It's not been three days of ignoring you. They were meant to get back to you on Friday and didn't and they're not back at work till Tuesday. You surely see why it's different, knowing how things are in the NHS, so better to work with that reality than drive yourself up the wall about what is, in fact, a very small delay. Just because you've called a lot doesn't make them have more time. It's good to be the squeaky wheel and I hope it will pay off tomorrow, but I very much doubt anyone is wilfully ignoring you rather than them being flat-out dealing with other equally or more urgent matters. Hang in there and try not to worry is all I'm saying.

@lawandgin - I'm sorry your baby is struggling with reflux. However, you really need to calm down. There has been a small delay in issuing a new prescription. That is all. The letter was only received on Wednesday. It is a new prescription rather than a standard repeat. It is taking a bit of time to process. The GP is, no doubt, very busy and will deal with it as soon as they are able. Please remember the the surgery has many, many other patients to deal with too.

I said your GP might of presumed as you went private and had a perception you paid for and obtained the medication, you went priv
ate because you wanted instant diagnosis and treatment.
You have not been ignored as you have spoken to the surgery 3 times . You can't seem to be patient and wait until Tuesday.
Personally if my child was that sick I wouldn't beg steel or borrow the £400 . Or take them to A+E .
And yes my DD had reflux I know what it's like .

I disagree with everyone. I agree with OP. This is disgraceful and there's simply no good for it.

Op has GP actually refered dc to see consultant yet on nhs? How many times have you asked before? What have HV's and previous GP's said? Please chase the nhs referral to consultant because you want to get back into the nhs.

Op went private because she was desperate because the wait on the NHS is so long, 4 months simply isn't acceptable.

So she's been seen privately and the letters been sent to the GP and the GP should accept that an issue the prescription.

There's literally no excuse and I'm staggered at the responses. I'd be phoning Tuesday, politely quietly demanding GP issue prescription. Complaining to Practice Manager if they don't.

The whole thing is absolutely disgraceful and there was literally no reason why this prescription shouldn't of been prescribed.

Bloody ridiculous. Acid reflux can be serious i found that out after finding my dd who was a few weeks old blue due to it ( she's 10 now and fine). Some people think its only a baby being sick but it can be a serious illness. Hope your dd gets her medication asap and good luck

Where has the OP said that the GP has refused to issue the prescription? No where that I have seen. She is just panicking because it hasn't been done to the time frame she wants and hassling the staff at the surgery.

She has obviously seen a GP about this and been given gaviscon which would usually be a first line medication. It's not clear what follow up plans there were or any other support she has received from the health visitor, etc. It's not clear that the GP has actually told her that the NHS waiting list is long (in the OP, it appears to be her assumption).

I'd be phoning Tuesday, politely quietly demanding GP issue prescription. Complaining to Practice Manager if they don't.

It seems to differ a lot from area to area, but my friend who has just had to go private in a similar situation had to be super strategic to get the GP to do some blood tests and issue the prescription from the private consultant. I'm not sure how 'on' it is to demand a GP swiftly does what a private consultant decrees. Not saying the OP shouldn't do this and obviously she is going to do this, I hope it works. But it doesn't seem to work that a private doc says jump so the GP does.

there was literally no reason why this prescription shouldn't of been prescribed.

Clearly there was a reason because it hasn't been. OP will hopefully find out tomorrow and it will get resolved. Getting outraged may be less effective than being understanding, for the OP's stress levels as much as anything.

Sorry - might have missed this, but does the GP know that you haven't had the private script fulfilled? If the GP thinks you have 6 weeks of medication from the private consultation I can see that they might not be super speedy in issuing the subsequent script.

You've asked for a new prescription (rather than a repeat) in the run up to a bank holiday weekend during summer holidays. My surgery have posters up saying its a 72hr turnaround on repeats at the best of times, possibly longer.

The bank hol is relevant not just because they have less staff as lots will be off on holiday, but because workload increases as every T,D&H who can't get their arse into gear to order scripts with plenty of time panics because there's a BH coming up.

No need to convince yourself its because they're going to refuse the script, it's just because the NHS is on its knees right now with workload.

Hope you get sorted soon
xx

Some people have no idea about the interface between private and NHS care . One do not get to demand that the GP issues a prescription prescribed outside of the NHS.
If you want it NOW use your private prescription .

You’re not listening to anyone. The letter will have said you were prescribed X amount and therefore, the priority is not getting an NHS prescription to you. You need to ensure a message is left for the duty GP tomorrow and explain you’ve not been able to collect a private prescription.
Theyre likely not refusing but they’re seeing she has a 6 week supply! Well, in theory she might have.
Just be polite and explain!

gps.northcentrallondon.icb.nhs.uk/cdn/serve/downloads/1505807971-72174620a00be487405115ab95a6f388.pdf

Why would the GP rush to prescribe according to their 48 hour turn around when - according to the letter - the private dr has issued 6 weeks worth of omeprazole?
It’s not clear to the GP issuing the prescription that she doesn’t have 6 weeks worth.
OP needs to calmly and politely explain and not make a complaint.

This. You just don't listen when people are taking to time to explain.

I'm not sure how I've been labelled the person who doesn't listen when I've said at least 3 times THE SURGERY HAVE BEEN TOLD: 1) we don't have the medication; and 2) their turnaround time stated is 48 hours for a NEW prescription. Honestly 😂 I wouldn't be very good at my job if I was incapable of listening.

There has been some helpful advice and nice-to-have empathy on this thread, so thank you to those posters. We've had another day of constant sickness and pain for DD, but let's just see what tomorrow brings. Contrary to what some may think, I have no intention of being rude or mean to receptionists or GPs. However, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to have either the prescription, or some kind of explanation as to why it isn't possible by the end of tomorrow. But I expect to be told iabu for that too 😁

@whowhatwerewhy I'd take an equally appropriate and effective medication. I don't have some kind of fetish for omeprazole suspension 🤷‍♀️

You ask if your being unreasonable and anyone who says you are you lash out at .
Your GP has been asked to fill your private perception he might not be able to he also might have to contact the consultant to discuss other alternatives.
It could just be a delay due to work load .
The medication is sat in a pharmacy but you won't pay for it 🤷‍♀️ if my child was that sick I would find the money.
I hope you get the perception filled today and it is just a case of the GPS work load .
But don't ask for opinions if you don't want them.

Does your practice have a prescription/pharmacy service ? I phone mine directly and they generate scripts if it's on the system. Failing that, do go in with crying baby. It's not unreasonable to expect the script to have gone through. Contact the paediatrician again and ask if there's been any coms from the surgery. This is pretty crappy on the part of the gp and a complaint would be justified.

@lawandgin you are clearly giving a number of people the impression that you don't listen. You come across as defensive and just keeping repeating your original complaint.
It has been a 2 day wait, they are busy and haven't had a chance to deal with the request, maybe the GP wants to speak to you. Go in later today and ask them.

@whowhatwerewhy I'm not lashing out at anyone. My skin is more than thick enough to be told iabu, if that's what people think. It's just frustrating when some people are choosing to ignore what I've already said and are effectively patting me on the head and telling me to be a good little girl and be patient 🤷‍♀️ if they'd just phoned to explain whatever the problem is, it would be a different story. So I guess yeah, maybe iabu thinking the gp should "just issue the script" but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect some form of communication. A 2 minute phone call in 3 days between 2 surgeries (they are linked as part of a group and we can go to and request prescriptions from either) and over 15-odd doctors really shouldn't be this difficult.

That's exactly what I'll do @orangemelon. I'm tired, I don't have it in me to keep fighting people and I just want this sorted for DD's sake.

You spoke to them twice Friday 🤷‍♀️ .