28 day prescription policy 20 December 2022 at 11:34PM in Health & beauty MoneySaving 10 replies 407 views

annabanana82

I understand that a 28 day prescription policy is in force, but there are some exemptions, I'm not entirely sure how this works, but is it possible to secure 3 month's of medication? This is for statins which are to be taken daily for rest of life. 

I get that it is to prevent waste, but there are a number of reasons why it would be beneficial to have quarterly prescriptions

elsien

It’s in line with NICE guidance. It’s not absolutely set in stone and the GP does have some discretion for some medications; this may not be your CCG but it does give a good overview of the reasons and exceptions.
https://westessexccg.nhs.uk/your-health/medicines-optimisation-and-pharmacy/general-prescribing-guidance/162-repeat-prescribing-28-day-policy/file

annabanana82

Thank you that's really useful. I can see the rationale of it, unfortunately my OH is struggling with the realisation that this is for life. I'll have to manage the repeat prescriptions until we are certain thar the tablet and dosage is right for him 

unforeseen

My CCG has the same policy. The only medicine that I get 3 months at a time is one prescribed by my hospital that gets delivered to me through their Home care system. 

Ms_Mop_123

I've got rheumatoid arthritis and I get a three months prescription for two of the meds I take, folic acid and methotrexate which is chemo cytotoxic drug.  The other drug I take is a hospital prescription and that's for 2 months and like unforeseen above it's delivered to my door. 

unforeseen

My one from the hospital is for my psoriasis. Before that I was on MTX & folic acid but could only get a month at a time. 

Gers

My statins come in 56 day amounts and when I went on an extended holiday this year I was given enough to cover it. 

Prescriptions are dispensed free of charge in Scotland. 

Spoonie_Turtle

My medication comes in 3 month amounts.  Just after the change to 1 month was implemented I did ask for more to be prescribed at once because I was paying for prescriptions (and it was VERY inconvenient having to renew every month) - but the main reason I could ask was the dose had stayed stable for a while already at that point, and was unlikely to change.

luvchocolate

Gers said:

My statins come in 56 day amounts and when I went on an extended holiday this year I was given enough to cover it. 

Prescriptions are dispensed free of charge in Scotland. 

Mine exactly this but in England 

thepurplepixie

My doctor will do batch prescriptions for 3 or 6 months but the actual med has to be collected every month although I suppose if you are with one of the pharmacies that send you your prescription then you would just get them delivered every month.  

kirtondm

For some inexplicable reason my alopurinol rx was changed from 1/12 to 2/12 in the pandemic and remains the same. As I pay towards prescriptions I have no reason to challenge this!