Repeat Prescriptions How often?

[BallandChain]

I've just been to my doctors for my medication and she prescribed one pack of tablets. I collect the tablets at the dispensary at my Dr's surgery and when I asked the pharmacist why there weren't a couple of months supply (repeat prescription) she told me that to prevent wastage they only supply one month of medication at a time for everyone.

This is ludicrous as I have a 3 mile trip there as it is and I've tried to use their online repeat prescription form and it's still not up and running. The pharmacist told me that they are having problems with their soft ware to enable the repeat prescription service to be available. Does anyone else have just one months supply of tablets/medicine at a time? I'm thinking it's a money making scam as now I am going to have to visit the surgery every month and pay the £7.10 for one item each time.

I'm concerned there may be a time I won't be able to get to the Drs and I'll run out of tablets before my next prescription. They only give you 2 months supply if you are going on holiday. Is this now standard practice with all Dr surgeries? :confused:

[dmg24]

My GP only gives one month at a time, with the exception of the pill, where they give three. You can ask for more, but they do not have to give you any more.

A money making scam? Perhaps next time you say something so stupid you should remember just how subsidised the NHS is.

If you are concerned about running out then arrange your repeat in plenty of time. The only way that you will run out is if you are disorganised.

[alfiedog]

My surgery has only been giving out one month's supply for a few years now. It is an inconvenience for me as I have quite a trip to take the form in every month and then go back again to pick up my tablets. They advertise their online service but it never works:mad:

[red bertie]

Think GPs apply different repeat amounts according to types of drugs. I take several drugs on repeat, it drives me nuts - some I get 3 months, some 2 months and three particular drugs they only give me on monthly prescription.

I have a pre-payment prescription card to cover the costs, well worth it if you know you are going to get ongoing repeats. Work out if it would pay you to get one.

[Tulip]

I only get one months supply of medication for myself at a time on repeat prescription only :)

[bank_of_slate]

Hi ballandchain
You need to ask your GP about this,
It may be the practice's policy to only prescribe one pack at a time.
You may be able to come to an arrangement that you can obtain two or three months supply.

Some medications require your GP to ensure that you return for regular checks before more medication can be dispensed, in these cases when a patient has a few month's supply there is a chance that they might miss their check appointment which could be a risk to their health!

If your GP feels that you can be trusted to attend for the required checks then they may be willing to prescribe more than 1 month's supply at a time, discuss it with your GP at your next appointment.
...Linda xx

[amandada]

I get my repeats for 8 weeks at a time

[BallandChain]

My GP only gives one month at a time, with the exception of the pill, where they give three. You can ask for more, but they do not have to give you any more.

A money making scam? Perhaps next time you say something so stupid you should remember just how subsidised the NHS is.

If you are concerned about running out then arrange your repeat in plenty of time. The only way that you will run out is if you are disorganised.

Of course it's just a way to get more money out of you. I used to get 2 packs a month for the same price and now I'm going to be paying double. As for being disorganised, not true. I work and I live 3 miles from the surgery. You have no control if you are ill and I'm the most organised person.

Thanks to the other replies. I used to be able to get 2 packs or 3 and it looks like they've changed their system. It's so annoying especially as this is an ongoing prescription.

[BallandChain]

Hi ballandchain
You need to ask your GP about this,
It may be the practice's policy to only prescribe one pack at a time.
You may be able to come to an arrangement that you can obtain two or three months supply.

Some medications require your GP to ensure that you return for regular checks before more medication can be dispensed, in these cases when a patient has a few month's supply there is a chance that they might miss their check appointment which could be a risk to their health!

If your GP feels that you can be trusted to attend for the required checks then they may be willing to prescribe more than 1 month's supply at a time, discuss it with your GP at your next appointment.
...Linda xx

Thank you for that. I will mention it the next time I'm there! I always turn up for check ups/appointments so I hope the Dr takes that into account. I mentioned the pre-payment certificate to the pharmacist but she didn't think I'd benefit if I only have one pack a month. If I have two packs a month of the same item is it just the one charge of £7.10 or do they treat it as two separate items? :o

[bank_of_slate]

Of course it's just a way to get more money out of you. I used to get 2 packs a month for the same price and now I'm going to be paying double. As for being disorganised, not true. I work and I live 3 miles from the surgery. You have no control if you are ill and I'm the most organised person.

Thanks to the other replies. I used to be able to get 2 packs or 3 and it looks like they've changed their system. It's so annoying especially as this is an ongoing prescription.

Not necessarily!
Some practices may have introduced a strict prescribing policy due to abuse of the system by patients in the past!

Other practices may all be tied in by the local PCT's prescribing policy which is linked to performance, quality and patient safety issues!
How do I know this? I work for a PCT.

Best thing to do - talk to your GP about it!
...Linda xx

[razorbladekisses]

Thank you for that. I will mention it the next time I'm there! I always turn up for check ups/appointments so I hope the Dr takes that into account. I mentioned the pre-payment certificate to the pharmacist but she didn't think I'd benefit if I only have one pack a month. If I have two packs a month of the same item is it just the one charge of £7.10 or do they treat it as two separate items? :o

You pay £7.10 per item, so 1 pack would cost you the same as 2 or more.

The pharmacist is correct, you wouldn't benefit from having a PPC.

I only get a month of medication at a time but have a PPC.

[tanith]

My GP has always and still does give me 3mths tablets at a time... but these are tablets that I will be taking for life......... I can't imagine how much this would of cost over the years had I had to pay full price for them. I am even more grateful now I am 60 and pay nothing... where else can would I benefit from such a system... :T

It does seem to be a bit random though that some pay 3X for the same amount of tablets... maybe a word with your doctor would get a result..

[Nomad25]

PPC .. 3 months £ 27.85 [£21.30 ]
..12 months £102.50 [£85.20]

If you are only getting £7.10 a month's worth, then your pharmacist is correct. You're right on the edge.

[shazrobo]

my gp, only prescribes me 2 weeks of medication at a time, sick of the endless trips to pick up repeats, op, count yourself lucky that you get a full months supply

[Titch89]

Do you have to have check ups or anything because of your medication? I think this is what my dad has, so can only get one month at a time.

[alba37]

We use a lot of prescribed medication in my house, we get 2 months a time prescribed on all of it. If I was going away and asked for more they would give me it.

I would explain your situation to the surgery and find out what their policy is too. Hopefully they may prescribe more if they know the reason why.

[Tozer]

Move to Wales and you don't pay for prescriptions!

[queensway_boy]

Eight different lots of tabs a month i get:eek:

[BallandChain]

lol Queensway boy, you must be rattling!

Don't they pay for prescriptions in Wales? I am sure I came across threads where they do.

Titch, I don't get regular check ups.

[Tozer]

lol Queensway boy, you must be rattling!

Don't they pay for prescriptions in Wales? I am sure I came across threads where they do.

Titch, I don't get regular check ups.

Nope - not a penny. Which in itself is ridiculous when you hear about people asking for prescriptions for paracetamol which are about 16p in Tesco.

[bryanb]

Move to Wales and you don't pay for prescriptions!

Somebody pays, it must be "the taxpayer" Are you one?

[queensway_boy]

lol Queensway boy, you must be rattling!

Don't they pay for prescriptions in Wales? I am sure I came across threads where they do.

Titch, I don't get regular check ups.


yeah and the welsh get free appliances as well,not fair they getting washing machines and dishwashers as well:D

[alba37]

It's being phased out in Scotland too, I believe. They've recently lowered the charge.

I can beat you on the meds QB! :D

[hardpressed]

In our area it's down to the PCT who state that a pt can only be given one months supply at a time, except for drugs that come in packets of more than one months worth eg contraceptive pills and HRT.

[Tozer]

Somebody pays, it must be "the taxpayer" Are you one?

Yes, in spades. Your point?

[rheme]

Why not give your doctors surgery a supply of stamped self addressed envelopes so when you ring for a repeat prescription they post it to you. Saves you going to the surgery every time.

I have been doing this for a couple of years now and it works very well.

Also some chemists have a system of ordering your repeat prescriptions and dispensing them for you. All you do is collect. Some even deliver.

May help.

[BallandChain]

Thanks Rheme. Unfortunately you cannot ring prescriptions through, you have to call into the surgery. Their website repeat prescription service isn't up and running so it means 2 trips in each time. One to drop off the request form and two to pick up the medication. I will enquire if they will post it if I supply a SAE but then again I'd have to know how much the postage is going to be!

Edited to say that I just re-read your post and you mentioned to use the SAEs for the prescription request. I was thinking you meant use the SAE for the medication! lol, it's late and I'm tired so wasn't reading it right. I'll still enquire whether they will deliver as I am 3 miles from the surgery. Thanks! Also the dispensary I use within the surgery is the nearest one to me so I can't go anywhere else.

[Savvy_Sue]

Just wondering if any of the pharmacies near where you work are offering a service where you call in to them, tell them what you need, and they get the prescription from the GP and make it up for you.

Not all pharmacies offer this, and of those that do they don't offer it to all surgeries, but worth checking if that would be more convenient?

[hardpressed]

I think what Rheme meant was that the surgery would post you the prescription form for you to take to a pharmacy, they are not allowed to send medicines through the post.

[sarah_smurf]

The 3 diff tablets I have are only given to me as a monthly dose. I don't know if its due to how my GP practice works or the fact that the problem I needed them for can get better/worse.

There is a pharmacy also linked to my docs aswell, I think what happens is, the man from the chemist goes to doctors, picks up the prescriptions, takes them to chemist to sort all tabs out, then goes out in his van to distribute tabs. Or they can pick there tabs up from chemist to save having to pick up from docs then having then to collect tabs from chemist.

[Margaret54]

Hi all:) I am also on several kinds of medication, and this will be for life too. I am only ever given a month's supply at a time. I find it does save me money by paying for a PPC. It is a lot of money to hand out, yes, but once it is paid, it lasts for a whole year. The person who said to run out is being disorganised, is very wrong. I am a very organised person, and several times when I have been really unwell(a day worse that most days) I have found my supply of medication almost done. My husband has gone into our chemist explained what has happened, and as the pharmacist himself told him, it is very easy to run low especially when you are on quite a few different kinds of medication. He has "lent " me enough for a day or two, and then takes them back again when the script is presented. I do feel the charges though are quite high, and it would be grand to see a change where we could have them free as in Wales.

[Kavanne]

I suffer from anxiety and worrying about my medication running out once a month isn't really helpful!! lol But my doc doesn't care, 28 day supply is all I will ever get