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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think doctors don't read repeat prescriptions before signing them

139 replies

2shoescreepingthroughblood · 15/10/2009 17:17

collected dd's today
I had asked for paracetamol, the doc knows dd and knows what she has(he precribed it for her a while back)
yet instead of liquid, he put soluble tablets!!
so he can't have read it can he, makes me think the receprionist, does them and he just signs them without looking.....
(it is ok as chemist will swap it)

OP posts:
Original poster
2shoescreepingthroughblood · 15/10/2009 18:58

sorry should have explained.
dd has a repeat prescription for various meds she is on, including her epilepsy meds.
I don't normally ask for paracetamol on prescription but she has been using it a lot due to pain/uncomfortness from an operation.

OP posts:
ErikaMaye · 15/10/2009 18:59

So does that mean we should just accept imperfect service greatfully, just because its free? Let me guess - you're one of these delightful people who also thinks that those of us who are on benifits (HI!!!) are lazy and milking the system right??

I couldn't afford my perscriptions if mine weren't free.

Goodness, I'm glad you're not responsible for the NHS.

Original poster
2shoescreepingthroughblood · 15/10/2009 19:01

ChunkyMonkeysMum thanks, that is what I thought, so at least that explains it.
someguy, my dd has a lot to contend with, imo asking for pain relief on prescription is not draining the nhs. what a silly comment.

OP posts:
Original poster
2shoescreepingthroughblood · 15/10/2009 19:02

my doctor is very nice, he see's dd as a priority, he realises she has enough going on in her life without worrying about pain or having a fit.

OP posts:
ErikaMaye · 15/10/2009 19:02

2shoes don't worry, think of the baby holding on the 19th Your DD is fantastic, and if she needs painkillers, she should have them presented to her on a silver platter as far as I'm concerned

hairyclaireyfairy · 15/10/2009 19:04

I suppose mistakes are made and thankfully this has been rectified easily and was not with a medication that couldbe dangerous (when the doc prescribed an adult epipen to my then 2 year old, could have been life threatening but for the fact that the pharmacy noticed)

feckaff · 15/10/2009 19:04

YANBU

Was the pharmasist that saved my DD'd life, when he knowinly (thank God) knew what DD was prescribed for her heart, the G.P. signed a script for an adult, one dose would have killed her, so UANBU just make sure you keep checking them, it doesn't matter how many they have to check, it's their job and they should do it right!!

jybay · 15/10/2009 19:07

Erika, I'm confused - are you flaming me? I'm sticking up for the right of parents to get paracetamol on prescription, not for poor service.

TheHeadlessWombat · 15/10/2009 19:08

And Someguy.Pain relief in any form is an excellent use of NHS resources imho so why should the OP have to pay for it?

ErikaMaye · 15/10/2009 19:09

jybay no, not at all, just that by the time I posted it you'd replied

SomeGuy · 15/10/2009 19:16

So Someguy, when my dd had major surgery and was sent home with a prescription for Paracetamol suspension for pain relief, I should have refused it and gone and bought some at the chemist?

If you've had major surgery then of course you would get your prescription.

Equally, if you took your child to the doctor for an illness and the doctor recommended some drugs, one of which was paracetamol, you would not throw that away and get another one.

However if I just needed some paracetamol I would go out and buy it.

There is a difference between being a repeat prescription (which you ask for, the doctor doesn't tell you to get it) and an initial one.

Tombliboobs · 15/10/2009 19:26

'There is a difference between being a repeat prescription (which you ask for, the doctor doesn't tell you to get it) and an initial one.'

Er, what are you talking about someguy?

jybay · 15/10/2009 19:31

I once worked out that a single parent on benefits buying a bottle of Calpol is spending the equivalent of an MP paying £35 per bottle (i.e. as a percentage of total income).

ChunkyMonkeysMum · 15/10/2009 19:37

What do you mean someguy ??

If a Doctor prescribes you something, and you then need a repeat of that item, that prescription can be issued against the original item issued.

Don't get what you mean

SomeGuy · 15/10/2009 19:37

If you know you need some paracetamol, you can walk into Boots and buy it, whether you have a prescription or not. If you don't have a prescription already, it is a complete waste of the doctor's time to give you a repeat one. He's not exercising any of the judgement or experience he spent years and hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money acquiring, all he is doing is saving you £1.50. Tht is the sole purpose of acquiring this prescription.

It is not reasonable to expect high-level medical input in this process. If the doctors surgery is getting 'save me some money' prescriptions in, requesting repeat prescriptions for things that you could just buy over the counter, they are best letting a lowly paid clerical worker fill them out. The doctor shouldn't come anywhere near the process.

SomeGuy · 15/10/2009 19:39

I once worked out that me buying a penny sweet is the same as Bill Gates buying a luxury yacht. Next point?

ChunkyMonkeysMum · 15/10/2009 19:40

"It is not reasonable to expect high-level medical input in this process. If the doctors surgery is getting 'save me some money' prescriptions in, requesting repeat prescriptions for things that you could just buy over the counter, they are best letting a lowly paid clerical worker fill them out. The doctor shouldn't come anywhere near the process."

Nice to know what you think of us recptionists someguy !!! Cheers.

ChunkyMonkeysMum · 15/10/2009 19:41

*receptionists

SomeGuy · 15/10/2009 19:42

Who ever said anything about receptionists ChunkyMonkeysMum?

I said the 'lowly paid clerical worker'.

Don't know what makes you think that refers to receptionists.

ChunkyMonkeysMum · 15/10/2009 19:50

Well who else is the "lowly paid clerical worker" then ?

We didn't have anyone other than receptionists and a Practice Manager who all did repeat prescriptions, so to me that sounds like you are referring to us.

Tombliboobs · 15/10/2009 19:52

I think you are being deliberately obtuse now someguy.

bigstripeytiger · 15/10/2009 19:53

When my daughter had a planned operation a nurse from the hospital phoned me the day before and told me to make sure I had ibuprofen and paracetomol in the house. I wasnt given any to take home. I was perfectly happy with this, and it seemed reasonable to me.

OP, are you sure that the precription was wrong? if the dose that your DD has was equivalent to a tablet or half a scored tablet could they have thought that you would mix the soluble tablet with water and give it that way?

jybay · 15/10/2009 19:55

I don't think the OP is saying her DD was prescribed the wrong dose, only that she (DD) usually has it as a liquid.

Original poster
2shoescreepingthroughblood · 15/10/2009 20:16

someguy, are you deliberatly trying to wind me up??
you seem to have made this thread all about what was on the repeat( did not ask aibu to ask for parecetomal on prescription as I know I am not, (I know why my dd needs it) I asked
Am I being unreasonable? : to think doctors don't read repeat prescriptions before signing them

Did you not understand the question? or did you just want to get on your soap box?

OP posts:
girlsyearapart · 15/10/2009 20:35

My dd has had to have a version of Piriton almost every night and sometimes also during the day for over a year now.

There's absolutely no way I'd go and buy it when the doctor will prescribe it for free.

I know that's not the point but those comments irritated me.

OP- YANBU and luckily it wasn't a mistake that was more dangerous as others have described.

Our pharmacist is way more thorough than our GP btw.