Last year I was prescribed an off licence dose of oestradiol after blood tests showed I was a poor absorber. I saw a private menopause doctor for advice, and she wrote to my GP suggesting 125mg of patches. She also suggested I would benefit from testosterone gel. She stipulated that I would need follow up blood tests to check on this if I was to continue on the higher dose of oestradiol and the testosterone. On the basis of this consultation, my GP agreed and prescribed me 125mg of Evorel. I found I had allergic reactions to the adhesive in these so was switched to Estrodot, but the shortage of this means that for the last 2 times I have been given Estraderm. These are big and crinkly, but they seem to work and on this regime I finally feel like HRT is working for me. The GP continues to prescribe Estrodot, in case it comes back in stock, but says the SSP procedure should see me given Estraderm if the pharmacy doesn’t have Estrodot in stock.
The last 2 times I’ve been to pick up my prescription, the pharmacy have refused to give me estroderm, as the prescription says Estrodot and they don’t have that and can’t get it. They have Estraderm on the shelf but they insist they cannot give me it. I’ve driven to a different pharmacy and been given it no problem as an allowable substitute. This time I insisted, they took my prescription back to see a GP (it is a dispensing surgery as we are very rural, hence my reluctance to drive elsewhere as the next nearest pharmacy is a long way away) and the questioned GP, who has never met me or read my notes, said I could not be prescribed the dose on the prescription, it is a new NHS rule, and actually told the pharmacy to not dispense it. I asked to see my doctor to clarify this, and was told there is a 3 week wait.
Has anyone come across a new NHS rule that a GP who does not know me can overrule a prescription that has been written for me by a GP who does know me on the advice of a specialist who has seen me and taken blood tests? I am beyond raging. I’ve complained to the practice manager, but she was useless. I’m really not sure where to go next, but cannot just sit here with no HRT prescription.