Charged Prescription Fee for Over-the-Counter Medication

[cincin]

I went to the doctor yestereday and was given two prescriptions which I had filled at Boots. I was asked before the prescriptions were filled and also when I went to pay if I payed for my own prescriptions and I replied yes. When I got home I checked the items on the internet and found that they were available over the counter at a cheaper price than the NHS prescription fee - in fact I paid more than double the price for one of them. Who should have warned me that these were available over the counter - the doctor or the pharmacist - and do I have any recourse for a refund of the difference?
Thanks to All

[ShaunJUK]

I think its up to you to check, or at least as the pharmacy.

The doctor, just gives you a prescription for what you need.

When you go into the pharmacy you are walking into a business, if your selling something for £3 but someone walks in with a coupon to buy it for £6.45 (or whatever it is now) which would you accept?

The pharmacy did nothing wrong, when I take in a prescription I always ask them to check if there are any cheaper alternatives to my prescription.

Shaun

[Toothsmith]

You're making the mistake here, cincin of thinking the prescription charge is something to do with paying for the medicine you need.

It isn't, it's a charge for visiting the doctor.

A doctor can get into trouble for recommending patients 'just buy' the medicines they need.

Similarly, a pharmacist can get into trouble for binning a NHS prescription and just selling the medicine. Even when it's an 'over the counter' product.

It is easier for the pharmacist to just sell the medicine - he does not get to keep the £6ish, but has to complete a return each month.

He will be paid the extra for medicines that cost more than the prescription charge, but will have any excesses knocked off that payment.

There was a case in Wales a few years ago of a pharmacist nearly being struck off for binning NHS prescriptions and just selling over the counter products.

[cincin]

Live and learn - although I have had doctors tell me to buy over the counter and pharmacists tell me that it was cheaper to buy off prescription. I will definitely check now before filling a prescription, but I do think something is inherently wrong with this setup. Thanks for the advice!

[Savvy_Sue]

Live and learn - although I have had doctors tell me to buy over the counter and pharmacists tell me that it was cheaper to buy off prescription. I will definitely check now before filling a prescription, but I do think something is inherently wrong with this setup. Thanks for the advice!I can see where you're coming from, but personally I'd rather my GP concentrated on knowing what the best medication for me was, rather than what it cost.

And it does also depend on quantity, doesn't it? Your GP might prescribe something which IS available OTC, but in a large enough quantity to make the prescription cheaper.

As you've learned, always worth asking once you get to the chemist. But - not meaning to sound harsh here - the only person responsible for saving your money is ... YOU!

It's friendly when the GP says "This might be cheaper OTC", or the pharmacist points this out, but it isn't their money ...

[Bossyboots]

My GP always asks if I pay for prescriptions and when I was doing so, told me what to get over the counter. Our local Boots does as well so I was surprised to read the first post and even more surprised to see what Toothsmith said.

[LondonDiva]

A lot of GPs are wary of telling people to buyt otc medicines because people complain they are being 'fobbed off' unless they have a prescription in their hand.

Anyway, as Shaun & Sue said - the patient has a part to play

[recovering spendaholic]

AFAIK you can ask the GP for a private prescription. In alot of cases, particularly for penicillin and stuff it is cheaper. I paid £3.50 for penicillin last time I needed it on private prescription. I always ask the GP if it is cheaper on PP.

[Bossyboots]

AFAIK you can ask the GP for a private prescription. In alot of cases, particularly for penicillin and stuff it is cheaper. I paid £3.50 for penicillin last time I needed it on private prescription. I always ask the GP if it is cheaper on PP.


But my GP charges £10 to write a private prescription so it is never going to be cheaper unless you get lots on one script.