GP won't prescribe meds for child's Threadworms. Is this standard?

[sharesinNivea]

I have just had a requested callback from one of the practice doctors as I suspect my child has worms, where she advised me that I am not eligible for a free prescription for the treatment, as they are 'too busy to deal with common childhood complaints such as threadworms' and expect parents to take full responsibility for their child's health issues amd treat it themselves.

I don't know if it is worms but it matches photos I've googled (not a pleasant 10 minutes!) sonasically the doctor is recommending a treatment without even examining first.

When I said that I'm currently on income support, she said that Child Benefit is awarded precisely for this reason, to buy medication for your child amongst other expenses, so she will not offer me a free prescription for threadworm.

It's £11 per pack and there are three in our family, two children and myself, that's an entire week's Child Benefit!

I'm not a dole scrounger by any means and I scrimp amd save to high heaven to afford to live on benefits as a lone parent as we receive zero child support from their father, but spending £30 on medication when I assumed this is what the NHS Is for...? I have after all worked since the age of 18 until 36 when I had my children, hasn't that helped pay for free medication for my children?

They've just had headlice too at £15 a pop and I need to buy a follow up bottle in 7 days for that too, obviously I don't expect free prescriptions for headlice lotion, but as these threadworms are causing major discomfort and are contagious...oh I don't know. Tell me if I'm wrong and this is standard practice, please :/

(I bet nobody wants to invite my poor daughter to parties at the moment what with wigglies at both ends, my gawd poor little thing ).

I'm not sure if they're allowed to do that as children are entitled to free prescriptions anyway aren't they? I'd see another GP.

I can see why they say no, and I can see why you are annoyed.

However, the Ovex leaflet says it's one single dose, maybe repeated 2 weeks later if re infected.

The bottle is 6 doses so you should just need one bottle.

In my experience its best to repeat the dose after 2 weeks.

Op you prob already know this but trim all nails, wash all bedding, individual towels, vacuum bedrooms thoroughly, don't forget sofa too.

Worms do my bloody head in.

I think your GP attitude stinks, children get free prescriptions anyway and the reason is to help in situations such as you describe.

I don't really see the difference between head live and threadworm treatment. Not that I think you shouldn't get a prescription for the threadworm. I don't think that they would want to do an examination, but a phone consultation with a prescription left with reception should be possible.

You don't need a prescription to get it for free.

You can get it through the pharmacy first scheme.

I don't understand why you rang the doctor.. just go to the chemist and ask for the treatment and get it on the prescription pad there. You can also do this for headlice treatment for kids.

she had no right to tell you how to spend your money.. cheeky bint.

I got it through the GP. Is there a pharmacy scheme near you for this, our area has one. Maybe worth checking. I agree with you it costs a bomb to treat.

DS2 had them a while ago and the pharmacist said the whole family needed to be treated. Just one tablet though.

It isn't £11 per packet, it cost me £6.something for a 4-tablet family pack of Ovex last time I bought it. About £7 for a bottle of liquid which treats 6 people. (or three people twice) The liquid is slightly stronger flavoured so DS didn't like it.

If you go to Boots they do an own brand one for about £4.

It is £11 for a packet of tablets here, Berstie :(

Thankyou for the advice about 'pharmacy first' - I've never heard of that and will look into it.

just get the bottle of ovex if by chance your chemist doesn't do the scheme. You can't leave the bairn to suffer but I'm sure you wouldn't anyroad. Threadworms are bloody horrible when you're a kid. Disturbs their sleep and makes them grumpy.

Where on earth are you? (I am guessing UK because of ref to NHS...) I've never seen Ovex sold at more than £6ish. Are you looking at Pripsen instead? They are supposed to work better, but I've always found Ovex to be good enough, and Pripsen contains a laxative which might not be good for children.

Berstie I've noticed earlier today the price varies quite widely - it's £7 something in Boots, £5.75 online and £11 in my local independant chemist.

I haven't confused 'Ovex' with 'Pripsen' either, it's in pretty clear wording on the packet :D

Could be down to cutbacks. Locally, our hcp stopped providing various things years ago that could be easily, and often cheaper, be bought over the counter.

It wont cost £33, because you don't have to go to your expensive independent chemist and you don't need a box each.

As for headlice, conditioner, nitty gritty comb and teatree work a lot better than store bought treatments.

Hi - can your HV prescribe it for you? (Some of us are community nurse prescribers).

It never occurred to me to ask the docs for it tbh. I supposed kids are exposed to it at school and nurseries so regularly that it would cost a fortune to supply.

Tip for you, buy a bottle of tea tree shampoo and mix some (or drops of essential oil) in to kiddy shampoo to ward off headlice. Cheaper than treating.

By them yourself. The rest of us have to.

And YY to tea tree for nits. My kids have never had them and we always use tee tree shampoo with added tea tree oil.

Children get free prescriptions. There is no debate on this. Talk to the practice manager and complain about the gp refusing to prescribe medication.

Methe You're a charmer, aintcha