More than 1 month's supply of drugs on prescription?

SparkyG

Does anyone know the rules on this when GPs are prescribing drugs?

My husband has to take blood pressure tablets, and the GP will only prescribe one month at a time, even though they have found the correct dose/combination for maintenance.

I get 3 month's HRT tablets on one prescription (same surgery, different GP) without question!!

Are there national guidelines, or is it down to each surgery/GP to apply their own rules?

My husband has to take 2 different drugs, and pay for 2 prescriptions each month. Doesn't seem fair somehow. We do know about the pre-payment certificate, and may well buy one if he is definitely not allowed more than one month's supply at a time.

Beebop

Not sure about this - my surgery will supply 6 months at once but then the prescriptions are held at a local pharmacy, so when I need more I can just go to the pharmacy and request it to be made up, thus saving another trip to the doctors.
Means your still having to pay the monthly prescription charges though (which seem to go up every month imo!):eek:

Dill

That's an interesting question, SparkyG. I wonder if it's all down to the individual GP and what they're willing to prescribe
My OH also has to take meds, and he only gets 1 month's supply at a time, too, but when I used to take the contraceptive pill I'm sure I got 3 months supply.
I really don't know what the rules are regarding this. It's one of those things where someone somewhere must know the answer.. I wonder if it's worth asking your local PCT? Or possibly netdoctor? Just a thought.

McKneff

i think it is down to the individual practice/doctor.

i take only one tablet a week for my osteoporisis and my first one months prescription was for 4 tablets, which meant i was paying approx. £1.75 per tablet. i questioned this with the receptionis who then spoke to the doctor, who was sympathetic and gave me a 3 months prescription, which is still expensive at 12 tablets for £7.10 but better than it was. Roll on my 60th birthday (i think)

moneysaving_pharmacist

As I understand it there was a directive from the department of health advising PCTs on 28 day prescribing. Ultimately it is down to the GP to decide on the length of treatment to be supplied for each prescription. GPs also tend not to think about prescription charges.

The reason for 28 day prescribing to reduce waste. The general public would be amazed if they knew how much medication was returned to pharmacies for destruction - and that's only the tip of the iceberg. I don't know why oral contraceptives and HRT are exceptions.

Beebop - it sounds like you are on repeat dispensing. This is similar to normal repeat prescriptions in that the GP decides they don't need to see you for another 6 months (or however long), and you can have prescriptions during that time period. Each individual prescription is usually for 28 days.

p1an0player

I'm in a similar situation to the OP and the surgery refuses to give me more than 28 days supply.

In the past I was told it is worth having at least a month's extra back-up supply at home to reduce the risk of running out.

It's a hassle to have to get more every 28 days, and if you go on a long holiday you'd be stuck. I suppose I could buy them online, but I resent being pushed into doing that because of the surgery's rules.

p1an0player

I found the following at www.bradfordvts.co.uk although I guess it varies between PCTs.

East_Lancashire_Prescribing__Advisory_Committee wrote:

4 GUIDELINES FOR QUANTITIES TO BE ISSUED

1. Normally no more than one or two weeks’ supply for acute conditions, where applicable. For infections, a short course of only 3-5 days is likely to be appropriate.
2. Normally no more than 28 days’ supply of medicines for non-acute conditions.
3. For some patients well stabilised on treatment and under regular review, the quantity should be limited to a maximum of 3 months’ supply. The issue of 3 separate prescriptions for a month at a time, while generating 3 dispensing fees, may be more economical than one prescription covering the whole 3 month period.
4. For the oral contraceptive pill, prescriptions should normally be for 3 to 6 months’ supply.

A) Conditions where longer supplies might be considered for well stabilised patients under regular review.

• • Hypertension Epilepsy Diabetes
  • Thyroid disorders Chronic musculoskeletal conditions Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Endocrine disorders Long term neurological conditions Colostomy & surgical applicance (rubber items tend to deteriorate)

Up to 3 months supply should be met by issuing separate prescriptions for one month at a time.

Examples of conditions where no more than one month’s supply should be considered. In many instances smaller quantities might be appropriate.

• Controlled Drugs
• Psychotropic Drugs
• Most Initial Prescriptions

I note that even when more than one month is given, they will do it as three separate prescriptions for one month at a time. I know from experience that pharmacists tend not to dispense post-dated prescriptions...

Organic12

This may not help but may perhaps give you another option that you can discuss with your GP.

I'm on a 12 month repeat prescription even though my medication levels are being tweaked by my consultant. The prescriptions were put together to allow for changes in doseage.

I was offered these by my GP surgery. They gave me six prescriptions in all, each allowing for two months supply of medication. I signed them and handed them all over to my wonderful pharmacist who hangs onto them for me.

I thought going back every two months was hard work but getting myself organised each month would just wind me up.

hardpressed

I believe it's the local PCT who didtates whether you can have more than 28days worth of medication at a time. Our surgery will give you extra scripts if you are going on a long holiday but there will be two charges. The exception to this is HRT and the oral contraceptive as they come ready packed in 3 months supply.
My migraine tablets come 6 in a box which cost me £7.10 so over a pound a tablet but I can assure you well worth it when you've got a migraine.

SparkyG

Thanks for all the replies. Very helpful:T

Looks like it is down to the PCT and that there are no hard and fast rules, so I will try and find out the policy of our local PCT, and see if we are 'entitled' to more than one month at a time. Don't hold out much hope though!:p