Private diagnosis - NHS prescription

[Lou324]

After 6 years of destroying my life with misdiagnosed mental health problems my partner and I finally paid for a private assessment and counselling as the NHS waiting list was ridiculously long. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder 1.

I asked my GP if they would take over my prescription as I can’t afford the medication privately long term and this is obviously medicine I need for remainder of my life. My GP has said no to this, well the receptionist did, the GP is calling me back Monday. My psychiatrist wrote to them with the prescription and report.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Or what I should say to them? I’m supposed to get another ecg and blood test to keep an eye on things while on these meds and we can’t afford this much longer. If I suddenly have to stop medication I’m scared I spiral again into mania which has literally destroyed our lives before. I feel like there is no help at all out there and I am psychically and mentally drained with asking for help

Not much you can do really. If it’s a shared care agreement that’s needed between primary and secondary care (needed for some specialist drugs) these often can’t be entered into with a private provider.

I can see why people are driven to end their life. My options are burden my family with mental health, burden them money problems or simply end it all. I’ve simply had enough

I don't have any advice re. the prescription but I'm sorry you are in this position and that better help isn't available to you.

Can I just say that your 3rd option to end it all = burden your family with your loss. Which is by far the biggest burden of them all. More money can be made, manic episodes can be recovered from but you can't be replaced.

Please take care of yourself and I hope you get the help you need and deserve.

Hello Lou324,

We are really sorry to hear you are feeling this way - when any of our users are feeling as you do we usually add a link to our Mental Health resources. You can also go to the Samaritans website or email them on [email protected].
Support from other Mumsnetters is great and we really hope you will be able to take some comfort from your fellow posters, but as other MNers will tell you, it's really a good idea to seek real-life help and support as well.

Some further support links which may be worth contacting for advice/precedent with regard the prescription issue.

NHS: Where to get urgent help for mental health
NHS: Looking after your mental health
MIND: Coping with mental health problems during coronavirus
CALM: The Campaign Against Living Miserably
NHS: Help for suicidal thoughts

We hope things look a lot brighter for you soon

Your GPs hand will be tied as to what they can and can't prescribe on an NHS prescription. If it isn't on the list they probably won't be able to prescribe it. However, the GP hasn't said that yet. Try not to worry too much. Even if the GP can't prescribe that particular drug there will most likely be an acceptable alternative.

The GP may not be able to prescribe but ask if they will refer you to a psychiatrist and go armed with your private assessment or see if your private psychiatrist can refer you to an NHS colleague

Thank you everyone

Can I ask what you’ve been prescribed?

A lot of people diagnosed with bipolar will be cared for by CMHTs.

If your GP cannot continue prescribing the medication, they should be able to refer you to secondary care who can meet your needs.

I know this sounds trite, but try not to jump to any conclusions before you have spoken to the GP. The receptionist may not have fully understood the request. I think sometimes with private prescriptions for psych medications, there can be a stipulation that it is monitored by the psychiatrist for 6 months or so, before being handed over to the GP, and then again reviewed by the specialist periodically to enable the GP to continue prescribing.

I have had my fair share of frustrations with accessing MH services, so I do understand how frustrating and demoralising it can be to feel like you are continuously fighting just to get basic care. You have done really well to get this far and I honestly think there will be a workable solution, it's just shit that it is so difficult to come by. You've done so much of the hard work already. Don't give up now

Don't worry about what the 'dr receptionist' said

Speak with the dr and go from there

I hope your gp can sort this for you, I had a private psych consult which resulted in a prescription and it was the private hospital pharmacist that told me to ask my gp for a prescription (psych requested it) and it went through to NHS pharmacy.

Has the private organisation sent their report and recommendation to your GP?

That needs to happen.

Yes it’s been received I got the phone call today to say they wouldn’t be continuing my prescription. it’s an nhs psychiatrist who I’m working with it’s just I was paying him via his private practise.

Oh no, that's shite, will they refer you to an NHS psychiatrist? I feel your pain, in a similar position and it's really demoralising 🤗

Can you ask the psychiatrist to transfer you to his NHS list , it may require your GP to refer you to him and then carry on being treated by him on the NHS .

Ignore reception and speak to the GP on Monday. I’m sure they will sort it for you.

If your private psychiatrist also works in the NHS then your GP would be hard pushed to refute the diagnosis.

Ask them to get you onto the waiting list for NHS psychiatry too, and then at least consider the prescribing the meds in the interim if they feel they need further confirmation of the diagnosis.

Sorry I am not of much help, but there is a notice in our gp surgery waiting area saying that they won't take over private prescriptions. I've been seen that notice nearly 2-3 years now.

Seeing *

Hi OP. Im unclear what the drug is that you're referring to. Im no expert but do work in the NHS at a senior level and this is my understanding from the last time I dealt with something similar.

If its been prescribed in the UK then its been licensed for use by the UK prescribing agency which is the first hurdle.

The second hurdle is, is it approved for NHS prescription? It has to be proven to be clinically and financially cost effective.

If it is available on NHS then you need to determine who can prescribe it - psychiatrists only (very specialist drugs), GPs (more routine meds) etc.

If its available on the NHS and only a psychiatrist can prescribe it, then you need to be transferred over to a NHS psychiatrist. Your current private one can do this by advising your GP to refer over to a NHS psychiatrist for ongoing treatment now you have been assessed and diagnosed. There may be a wait to be seen but at least you'll be in the queue.

If the drug is not available on the NHS the question to ask your private psychiatrist, GP or even Pharmacist is what equivalent drugs for patients with your condition are available on the NHS and then request you try them.

Im sure you will get this sorted one way or another, it just may take time. Diagnosis is half the cure so you're already halfway there. Well done for reaching out and getting help.

Best of luck x

Thank you so much for your help. The receptionist was causing unnecessary stress it seems. The GP has referred me onto NHS mental health team

@LadyLolaRuben

Totally !

The other think that I’m afraid will upset the OP is they say “ years of misdiagnosis “ suggesting nhs diagnosis doesn’t agree with the private one.

Private doctors can be wrong …

@Lou324

Thank you so much for your help. The receptionist was causing unnecessary stress it seems. The GP has referred me onto NHS mental health team

My GP has said no to this, well the receptionist did, the GP is calling me back Monday Did the receptionist say absolutely no, or they weren't sure and the GP would need to confirm when they called you back?

Diagnosed with depression during depressive episodes. Not treated properly during manic episodes. Post partumn psychosis was treated by the NHS and no long term after care offered once I was “better”. GP has referred me today to NHS mental health team so I can now get NHS treatment to allow for me to continue with medication

They said no, they said they don’t deal with private medicine but the GP phoned me today and said it’s ok after reading report.

I’m glad that your GP has come through for you.