Prescription length

[bamberger]

I have recently been diagnosed with a condition that requires me to take a tablet a day. The Doctor will only give me one months supply at a time, citing "Patients who receive more than a month's prescription are at an unfair advantage over those whom it deems eligible to pay.".
Is this standard throughout England and do I have any appeal rights beyond the Practice?
A prepaid season ticket is more expensive that 12 X £7.40. Of course in Scotland, Wales and NI it is all "free" regardless of income. Free meaning that England is subsidising them .
Thanks

[redcrx]

ive just changed GPs and my new one does have the max 1 month supply on there

[237SJ]

My mother`s blood pressure and anti-estrogen prescriptions are for one month but the GP gives her 6 prescriptions in one go. They are left at the chemist and she collects them one month at a time. Seems a really good system.

[slinky.kate]

i am in glasgow and only get one months supply at a time

[Sqad]

>>>>"Patients who receive more than a month's prescription are at an unfair advantage over those whom it deems eligible to pay.".>>>>>

I don't understand one word of that.....could somebody explain? Simple terms please.

[bednobs]

that's pretty standard.
What's up with paying for them?
do you have a condition could qualify for free prescriptions?

[cupid04]

I think I pay about £104 a year which works out a lot cheaper as I have about five
items a month, sometimes more.

[bednobs]

basically what the docotr is saying is "pay up"
the likelihood is that you are getting them at a vast discount to what they would actually cost - for example a 28 day course of non-proprietry omeprazole actually costs the NHS around £28. Cost to you = £7.40 difference = £20 odd quid

[mike11111]

When I was prescribed life-long medication 10 years ago my GP very kindly gave me 3 months supply at a time, thus reducing the cost by 66%. My new GP will only give me 8 weeks. As I no longer have to pay it makes no difference financially, merely the slight inconvenience of having to reorder on a more frequent basis. The prescription charge does not go to the pharmacist but direct to NHS funds. The NHS pay the pharmacist per prescription, not quantity, so if I get tablets on a monthly basis he gets three fees, whereas if they were prescribed on a three monthly basis he would get only one. This has to be much cheaper from an NHS point of view.

[Sqad]

redhelen....ah!........but the GP is just making more work for himself or the practice staff.

We would at one time write a prescription and at the bottom write "repeat* 4" so each month he would go back for 4 months and pay 4 times...........has that disappeared?

In Spain one has a "credit card type" with all your medications on for 4 months and you go back to the chemist, give him the card which he swipes and you pay 4 times.

Can't understand why a busy practice would want you back every month just for more tablets.

[slinky.kate]

sometimes you can buy over the counter what is written on your prescription and might be a lot cheaper

[bednobs]

you don't really need to "go back" - they do it all on repeat, on computer and just sign them
the reason they do it is cause they don't want you stockpiling tablets you are never gonna use - it comes from the PCT and they make you do it. The prescribing budget for my PCT (serves about 500000 people) is £60 million or thereabouts

[bednobs]

ps sqad - ive told you before - gps can be women now as well you know!

[Sqad]

bednobs..........yeah! right! ;-)

[bednobs]

no seriously ... they even let women in the army nowadays :)

[bamberger]

Thanks all.
Re "What's up with paying for them? " Over the years I have paid a lot into the system but have hardly used it but the one time I want to get something out of the system, I still have to pay.

Are there any appeal rights against refusal to prescribe more than 28 days supply please?

[bednobs]

no there aren't any appeal routes, except you could appeal to your MP to change things to make your condition one of those that receives free prescriptions.
I'm sorry you feel like you don't want to pay less than a tenner a month for your continued good health but prescription charges are not a new thing, if you don't want to pay, you could always just decline to take them i suppose. If you are on a low income, you can get them free which ensures that people who can't afford to pay don't.

Out of interest, what is the tablet? - i could look it up for you and tell you either how much you are saving by just paying the prescription charge or how much more you are paying than the tablet is actually worth

[bednobs]

ps i read something the other day that said that more than 90% of the prescriptions are "free" to the person that recieves them (either through age, maternity, or condition)

[mike11111]

I thin you are being a bit too harsh, Bednobs. Prescription charges are per item, not per prescription. Until I reached the magical age of 60 I was paying nearly £30 per month for four items. Without wishing to stir up animosity, it has to be a source of bitterness for those living in England who have to pay £7.40 per item whilst those in the rest of the UK enjoy free medication.