Idle musings..on us all being totally ripped off buying paracetamol for our children.....

[PaulaYatesBiggestFan]

I was just thinking as i came out of the chemists

I paid £3.17 for a 250 mg ( ml?) bottle of lloys pharmacy paracetamol suspension for my children

tablets cost about 2p /1000

I am sure the suspension is pricey and the bottle will tip the balance but hey? Is it not the case that the drug companies are totally cashing in on our under 10's being unable to swallow tablets?

I think so ...someone with more knowledge can convince me otherwise!

I'm amazed that paracetamol is given to people free in Scotland. My dd there can't even get treatment for thrush from the Dr, she has to buy it at the chemist and it's expensive when you're living on a student budget.

minor ailments, it's just for kids suedonim.

I had no idea about that service, Aitchtwooh. I mean, I've noticed the Minor Ailments sign in chemists but didn't realise they gave stuff for free, I thought it was just for advice.

It seems unfair that the NHS is handing out free medicine on one hand but otoh, won't even allow other medicine on prescription from the Dr. Especially as my dd gets thrush because of the antibiotics the Dr has given her in the first place!!

I got Canesten for thrush from my GP surgery after developing it from anti-biotics in December and we live in Scotland.

I think she needs to kick up a fuss, suedo.

yes suedo - that does sound extreme!

suedonim, the meds on the Minor Ailments scheme are only free since los are entitled to free prescriptions anyway

I think it's more to save a visit to the doc's when you just need some calpol

I think the issue is with your dd's GP - she should get meds for thrush on prescription - I have always managed to. Agree with expat, she needs to make a fuss.

I think your daughter's surgery is just trying to be cheap and stiff her. I've never heard of someone with thrush being told to buy it OTC.

suedonim, is your dd entitled to free prescriptions? If not, it might be cheaper to buy canesten OTC anyway (depending on what form she's using) (for e.g. prescription charge in England is nearly £7, tube of canesten £4-£5 IIRC). I don't know how the system works in Scotland though.

Minor ailments scheme is great, its for anyone who is exempt from prescription charges, children, unemployed, tax credit cert etc.

You have to register with the pharmacy, I have saved myself a fortune by availing of it.

My pharmacist refused to sell me 2 boxes of 32 Paracetamol last week - said if DS needed that much he would have it on prescription.

The week before she happily handed it over WITH Diclofenac & codeine??

I DO hate that even at a Pharmacy you have to keep going back to get enough Paracetamol for a family of 4. DS takes 8 a day so I would like a weeks worth please??

It does seem, from your replies that dd is being 'done over' by her Dr. The surgery isn't wonderful, tbh. It has lots of students on its books but they seem to regard students as the lowest form of life. Dd has recently seen a more sympathetic, older Dr there but she is thinking of changing to another surgery anyway.

Your dd's college/uni doesn't happen to have its own health service does it suedonim?

Where I work (a Scottish uni) there is a health service for students and staff. Students have to register with a local GP too, but they are entitled to make appts with the student health service too and the docs can write prescriptions (and in some cases give out free meds if they judge the case merits it).

Hmm, not sure. I'll have to ask her. Thanks for the tip-off.