Oestrogel black listed by my NHS CCG!

[mydoglovesme]

Apparently it's not available in my area on NHS prescription. I had to be referred to a Consultant to get one month prescription but he advised I might have to get a private prescription to continue. Does anybody have any advice or experienced something similar? I can't believe they can refuse to prescribe this?

Contact your mp. There was a debate in Parliament this autumn about menopause. The ccg can do what it likes pretty much. You need sustained pressure to change those decisions.

Surely a GP can ignore the advice if there's a valid reason for prescribing? Alternatively, can a GP write a private prescription? Ironically, the NHS drug tariff suggests this might be the cheaper option anyway!

Is there a reason it has to be specifically oestrogel? Have you tried patches?

I frequently have eczema outbreaks, usually caused by chemicals within clothing or accessories. Don't want to risk patches for this reason, plasters will sometimes bring on a rash so the adhesive on patches is likely to do the same.

I hope you manage to get it on the NHS. If not, and you do have to buy it on a private prescription, it's hardly any more than the NHS charge. I pay for it on a private prescription from my consultant and it's around £9-ish ( up to £10 in some pharmacies) but it lasts me for around 5 weeks.

Things changed not long ago, preventing GPs from offering an NHS consultation but writing a private prescription. Our former GP would sometimes offer a private script for items if they knew they were much cheaper than the NHS script fee.
That loophole has now been closed. You might have to get your private script from your consultant who can give you 6 months at a time. You need to get the consultant to advise you on this; if he's NHS he will know the system.

Thanks, that's reassuring to know. It just seems wrong that my postcode can dictate my HRT options on the NHS.

mydoglovesme, I am allergic to various chemicals (some of which have been specifically identified through patch-testing) and plasters, but have been using Estradot patches for several years without any problems.

I have also used Evorel patches, but they started getting itchy after a year or so. No redness or rash, and not every patch was itchy, but thought it better to change anyway.

I've used Eleste patches when there were supply problems with Estradot. No itchyness, but I never used them for more than a couple of months. Don't like them, though, because they don't stick well.

CCGs are under massive financial pressure and have to evidence that they are cutting wherever they can where it is 3 idenced that a lnotjer cheaper drug is as safe and efficient. I'm assuming oestrogen is more costly than the patch.

GPs do have to follow the recommendations of the CCGs. They could ignore it but it will monitored and they will have to justify why they do and put under pressure, something that few GPS care to do.

There is an option to ask for special consideration and indeed an allergy to the patch would likely be one but you would have to try it and evidence the allergy rather than assume it.

I'm going to call the pharmacist at my practice today to discuss the options for continuing with the gel. I'm hoping that if they won't (or can't) prescribe on the NHS then my GP can write a private script instead - if the cost is around the same as a prescription charge then then I'm happy to get it that way. I'm reluctant to start the month trial without confirming I can continue with it.

JellySlice I am going to give Estradot a try, having been unsuccessful in my quest to get oestrogel on the NHS. I figured before I go down the private prescription route, I should at least try the patches. I am transitioning from Femoston 2/10 to Estradot 50 + Utrogestan. Any words of advice?

Changing the patch after a shower 'feels' right, yet I find that they stick better and cause less irritation if I change them at a different time. Maybe the skin retains some moisture even after towelling? Maybe shower products leave residue that gets rubbed off by clothes? I don't know.

Also, if you use moisturising shower products, or moisturise after the shower, you'll need to clean the skin before applying the patch. I do that by washing just my hip with a dab of very basic fragrance-free shower gel as the last thing I do in the shower.

The patches leave glue marks, especially if I wear black. But I prefer to leave them to wear off, than to rub more chemicals into my skin. Besides, the marks help me make sure that I never place a patch on the same area of skin.

I don't know Utrogestan (I use Estradot + Mirena).

Hope it works out for you.

I have started using oestrogel. On advice of my GP I use 4 pumps a day. I got 2 bottles on my first script
I just renewed and only got one. This will last just 2 weeks. Surely that can’t be right for one prescription ! What do you think ?

For sticky patches and skin cleaning try rubbing alcohol or alcohol wipes should remove stick and clean skin of other residues at same time. They do dry the skin though with prolonged use but if you are moving things around a little will be OK

First patch on this morning - pleasantly surprised they are so tiny and discreet! Sticking fine so far. How long would it take for my body to react if the dose wasn't right?