private prescriptions...can GP convert it to a nhs based one

blinkbox

Hi All,

I recently visited a private consultant based on referral letter from my GP.

Private consultant provided a prescription ..can this private prescription be converted to NHS based prescription ? Can i request my GP to do it ? Is it possible ?

Consultant appointment was handled via my insurance provider , but provider said he cant reimburse any private prescriptions. He suggested that i can check with GP for converting it to NHS based ones.

My private prescription comes around 60 pounds (i checked that in lloyds pharmacy website) not sure whether i should go for it or not. Please help me .

pmduk

You need to ask your GP, they may feel it unreasonable to subsidise private treatment, although you've saved the NHS the cost of the consultation. Obviously if they're drugs the NHS won't prescribe you're out of luck.

blinkbox

@pmduk Thanks- will check with GP

Nicki

My GPs have always done this with no issue provided it is a drug they are able to prescribe under NHS rules at that stage in the diagnostic process.

InsideInsurance

It cannot be "converted" but your GP can write you an NHS prescription if you want and they agree. Some will refuse as they are entitled to do but most dont.

Make sure of cause that the NHS one will actually be cheaper, assuming you pay prescription charges. I know the Mrs medicine from the consultant was actually less than the NHS charge

AshfordSteve

blinkbox wrote: »

Hi All,

I recently visited a private consultant based on referral letter from my GP.

Private consultant provided a prescription ..can this private prescription be converted to NHS based prescription ? Can i request my GP to do it ? Is it possible ?

Consultant appointment was handled via my insurance provider , but provider said he cant reimburse any private prescriptions. He suggested that i can check with GP for converting it to NHS based ones.

My private prescription comes around 60 pounds (i checked that in lloyds pharmacy website) not sure whether i should go for it or not. Please help me .

This is something that really annoys me. You saw a consultant privately. Why should the NHS pay for whatever the consultant has decided to prescribe? If you want prescriptions at NHS expense then see a doctor within the NHS.

pmduk

AshfordSteve wrote: »

This is something that really annoys me. You saw a consultant privately. Why should the NHS pay for whatever the consultant has decided to prescribe? If you want prescriptions at NHS expense then see a doctor within the NHS.

But the NHS has already saved the cost of the consultation and the patient using private treatment has enabled somebody else to be treated sooner.

blinkbox

AshfordSteve wrote: »

This is something that really annoys me. You saw a consultant privately. Why should the NHS pay for whatever the consultant has decided to prescribe? If you want prescriptions at NHS expense then see a doctor within the NHS.

Well it was NHS who told me that i may need to wait for long time for consultation. I had to go to private only because of the extreme pain.
Anyways i have bought my medicines privately without NHS. The only issue was that each drug store (like boots , super drug) gave me a different quote for one of the privately prescribed drug.

It was community based model - llyods pharmacy which had the medicine readily available instore.

DomRavioli

blinkbox wrote: »

Well it was NHS who told me that i may need to wait for long time for consultation. I had to go to private only because of the extreme pain.
Anyways i have bought my medicines privately without NHS. The only issue was that each drug store (like boots , super drug) gave me a different quote for one of the privately prescribed drug.

It was community based model - llyods pharmacy which had the medicine readily available instore.

Have you checked that its available on the NHS? A quick google will show you.

If it is for "extreme pain" surely you would have gone to A&E and been seen immediately? There's a few drugs which are nerve blockers which aren't available widely on the NHS, including Pregabalin which is usually only available through a consultant and in my area is only for a 6 month course.

If you let us know what the drug is, I can try and find out if it is NHS approved for a GP, and whether it is POM.

OnAndUp

If the NHS didn't have such long waits then desperate people (I'm referring to myself!) wouldn't need to go private!

I have done this a couple of times with no problems whatsoever I just dropped it into my Gp's like I would a normal repeat Presc I just stuck a "post it" on it asking for an NHS Presc and they never queried it at all?

Also Re: Pregabalin I thought it was just a standard drug prescribed by most Gp's now. My Gp certainly does anyway? Is it an expensive drug or some other reason?

OnAndUp

AshfordSteve wrote: »

This is something that really annoys me. You saw a consultant privately. Why should the NHS pay for whatever the consultant has decided to prescribe? If you want prescriptions at NHS expense then see a doctor within the NHS.

How can you pass a general judgement like that when you don't know the OP's circumstances....Things are rarely black & white like that. The wait times can be horrendous.