Private HRT massive price increase.

[Fuckmyliferightnow]

I have been using the Newson Clinic for my HRT since 2022 and have had a great experience, helpful Drs and no problems accessing my HRT.
The pharmacy they use has put the price of 1 bottle of Oestrogel up to £23.99.
so my prescription in February cost £209 for 3 months of Oestrogel and Utrogestan, it now costs £280.

I was already having to save like crazy on my minimum wage. The problem is, if I don’t have HRT, I’m not able to do my job.
I can’t believe it, I feel sick.
My GP won’t prescribe it because of higher risk factors, so I’m screwed basically.
Anyone else able to get it cheaper?
What has your experience been with private HRT?

What are the risk factors?
Could you change your GP?
Have you told your existing GP that you are using it privately?

I know it wasn’t the question but why can you access a private prescription but not an NHS one ? What are the risk factors ? Surely if you can prove you’ve been taking without issue they can prescribe on NHS

You can take your private prescription to any pharmacy.

For Oestrogel and Utrogestan at Tesco in 2026, you can expect to pay roughly:
Estimated Tesco Private Prices

• Oestrogel (1 pump/80g): ~£12.00 – £16.00
• Utrogestan (30 capsules): ~£9.00 – £14.00
• Combined Total: You are likely looking at £25.00 – £35.00 total for one month of both, depending on their current wholesale supplier price.

Is the HRT pre pay certificate only for NHS prescriptions? You need to get prescribed on the NHS. Surely you can get a report from the Newson clinic to show a GP that tge risk factors have been examined an explained to you and you still choose to go ahead. Or why the clinic thinks the risks are overstated.

The same prescription plus estradiol cream, was less than half of that at a pharmacy. That's for the meds with a prescription I handed in.

Are they also adding on a payment for writing the prescription- that can be up to £40?

Is the HRT pre pay certificate only for NHS prescriptions?

Yes.

Yes, that's about right.

I assume that the Newson Clinic processes the meds through their own pharmacy (linked to them) and it's posted directly to women.

If this is so, it looks as if there is a big mark up going on.

I have a history of cancer, so my Gp will not entertain it unfortunately, even though the BNF states that breast cancer survivors with severe menopausal symptoms should be prescribed HRT. They won’t even do a testosterone test.
I can get HRT privately because I signed a form saying I understand the risks and it’s my risk etc. I’ve had no problems until now, the clinic have been great, they have listened to me and have written supportive letters to my GP to get them to consider prescribing for me. Now the shit has hit the fan.

i feel for you, can you insist on a referral to an NHS meno specialists specialist? It may take a while but could be worth it?

I just looked it up and it seems it’s not the Newson clinic that’s profiting from it, the pharmacy they use are separate with their own prices.
I could try getting a referral but I’m not hopeful. I just feel so deflated, I really can’t live without my HRT. It’s so unfair

Can't you ask the Newson Clinic to post a prescription to you?
Have all your appointments been virtual ? Have you seen one of their doctors in person?

Do you live near any of their centres where you can see one of them in person? Then presumably they could write a prescription to take to a pharmacy. They have so many centres now that you may find one that's within travelling distance.

I think you should call them and explain the problem and see what they suggest.

Your other option is to see another private consultant who will take you on and it may be cheaper to pay for a consultation and save on the prescription charges.

Why don't you just take your prescription elsewhere then?

I didn’t know I could take my prescription elsewhere tbh, I assumed they had a contract with the pharmacy as all my prescriptions are sent through automatically.
I will call and query this.
All of my appointments are online, there are no clinics near me.

Speak to them.
They obviously have an arrangement with the pharmacies but if they are charge double the cost of other private prescriptions that is unfair.
Pharmacies can charge what they like and with the N C they have captive 'audience'.

Ask if you can have had a prescription forwarded to you.

Newson use Cloud something or other don’t they ? I had my prescription transferred over to my GP. The only thing she wouldn’t approve was the testosterone so she referred me to a local Meno GP who runs a clinic in my area once a week ( I’m in Surrey ). So I’d ask if you have a similar specialist advice and speak to someone with better knowledge. Good luck.

The progesterone costs the nhs £3.60 for 30 days dose, as a guide to how much mark up is being made

That seems cheap- is that info online?

Someone posted earlier about the RRP if privately (it can be anything!) but it's around 40-50p per 100 mgs tablet.
A box of 30 is around £15 or a bit less.

I’ll email them and ask for my prescription, thanks

My Utrogestan is £70 for 3 months, so quite a lot. Testosterone gel 6 months for £75.

I’m just gobsmacked by the Oestrogel increase.

Can you ask for a referral from your GP to the menopause clinic? They will often see high risk women such as those with previous breast cancer.

Risk is usually based on your type of cancer, how long you have been cancer free etc. I wouldn’t prescribe HRT to women with recent breast or oestrogen positive cancers, for example, but would happily refer onwards (and warn you of potentially long waits unfortunately).

In the meantime as others have said if you have a private prescription you can take it to any pharmacy.

The wait for NHS meno clinics can be years.

Out of interest @Sidge , if you're a GP, why would you not carry on prescribing when the OP has had her HRT prescribed by another doctor (and may be a consultant)?

Is it not enough that she signed a waiver, saying she accepts the risk?

You're still paying too much for the Utrogestan. It's around 40-50p a tablet.

I got HRT privately but from my second prescription onwards I got an NHS prescription (private consultant wrote to my GP)
So I think you need to look back at the route of getting it prescribed via NHS, especially as you’ve been on it years

Im not a GP, just a NMP with a specialist qualification. But myself and my GP colleagues are not obliged to continue prescribing anything suggested or previously prescribed by another prescriber. Ultimately any prescription is done in our name, under our number, and as a result of our clinical assessment and decision making. We have absolutely no obligation to continue prescribing.

Shared care prescribing is often undertaken but usually only from NHS providers, not private ones, and under specific criteria. A patient signed waiver has little weight, medicolegally.

In my practice we will not continue any prescribing started privately that does not conform to NHS guidelines and practice, or our local formulary.

The price was on my gp's system when I had a review at Christmas. It came up specifically because I had a couple of spare boxes that were about to go out of date so I asked him to only prescribe oestrogel until I'd used them. He showed me the cost on-screen and said it would cost more in nhs time to change the prescription to delete the progesterone and then change it again to add it in a couple of months time, and for the sake of 3x£3.60 I might as well throw them away and continue to get progesterone and oestrogel alongside each other

In The guidelines it says people who’ve had er+ breast cancer can be prescribed HRT in severe cases. This has been the case for me and still they won’t prescribe.