Official MoneySavingExpert.com Prescriptions Discussion Thread

p1an0player

savetilibleed wrote: »

I have one, have done for about 30 odd years. In my local Lloyds pharmacy, one assistant tends to ask to see it and records the number, whereas the pharmacist never does. About 3 years ago I had a tooth out and needed some antibiotics as a precaution. I took the script to a pharmacy I never go to, ticked the box and it was never questioned.

You're allowed to not have the certificate with you.

p1an0player

Olliebeak wrote: »

Everybody at my GP's surgery was been informed earlier this year, that all prescriptions will in future be for 1 month supply. .

I have the same problem. One of my meds is a 28-day supply of tablets and it's not so convenient to have to remember to re-request the prescription that often, especially if I am working away from home.

For that reason I've been looking at online pharmacies to help me have a back-up supply. Does anyone know, when an online pharmacy says "you must have a prescription", do they actually check? Do you have to send the prescription in, and if so, what happens if it gets lost in the post?

Thanks

PeterPerfect

Did a quick search on google and the first hit when using "medical exemption card" is a pdf file entitled "Help with the cost of NHS presscriptions" HC81. It suggests that you should show proof of exemption when medication is dispensed, but do not have to, but checks will be made later. As the whole process takes a couple of seconds at looking at the name and date, then why not implement it. If it saves the NHS money!

It cost the NHS to send and print the plastic cards, then it should be used, why have the plastic card if they can do checks later?

I also rang said supermarket as regards the dispensing of Warfarin. There is a Patient Safety Alert (18) which quote's

"5 Promote safe practice with prescribers and pharmacists to check that patients’
blood clotting (INR) is being monitored regularly and that the INR level is safe
before issuing or dispensing repeat prescriptions for oral anticoagulants.
In many cases, the healthcare professional who issues repeat prescriptions for
anticoagulants, for example the general practitioner, is not the same practitioner who
monitors and adjusts the dosage of the therapy, for example the anticoagulant clinic
practitioner. It is for the prescriber supplying the repeat prescription to ensure that it
is safe to do so. Repeat prescriptions of anticoagulants should only be issued if the
prescriber has checked that the patient is regularly attending the anticoagulant clinic, that the INR test result is within safe limits, and that the patient understands what dose to administer. Reviewing the patient-held record when the repeat prescription is requested, and discussing the anticoagulant treatment at this time, is one method of doing this."

It can be confusing if on day a pharmacist asks to see your record, and then a different pharmacist does

p1an0player

PeterPerfect wrote: »

It suggests that you should show proof of exemption when medication is dispensed, but do not have to, but checks will be made later. As the whole process takes a couple of seconds at looking at the name and date, then why not implement it. If it saves the NHS money!

Not everyone is organised, or can get to a pharmacy easily.

If you forget or misplace your plastic card, it might make the difference between getting and going without medication for a couple of days.

malc_b

My daughter is now on penicillin for life. According to http://http://www.le-west.co.uk/le-w-user/default.asp?category=le-w-runs&service=ec-frame&opt=srhbox the cost is 1.90 x 2, yet when she leaves education it will cost her 7.10 or whatever the charge is then. Unfortunately I would have to be a ship to buy it from le-west. Also, the choice of penicillin is 1! Pencillin tablets which taste foul. OK, you can put up with that when you are ill, but twice a day for life is a bit harsh. Why are penicillin capsules available, on NHS that is, privately they are.

And why is it that medicines are only 1 month when the birth pill is 3 months? :mad:

moneysaving_pharmacist

PeterPerfect wrote: »

Did a quick search on google and the first hit when using "medical exemption card" is a pdf file entitled "Help with the cost of NHS presscriptions" HC81. It suggests that you should show proof of exemption when medication is dispensed, but do not have to, but checks will be made later. As the whole process takes a couple of seconds at looking at the name and date, then why not implement it. If it saves the NHS money!

It's the total time it would take that is the problem - if it takes 10 seconds per person, and you see 350 people in a day, then it takes up almost an extra hour of staff time. It may be feasible to do this in quiet pharmacies, but it is not feasible where I am.


malc_b, the prescription charge is the same regardless of the cost of the drugs, so some people win and some people lose. It is set by the government, so if you are unhappy write to your MP. And I have never seen penicillin capsules in the UK - a liquid is available, but only has a shelf life of 7-14 days.

3plus1

I paid for a PPC in Boots in Scotland a few months ago. My previous PPCs were bought in England over the phone direct, and came as a plastic card, which was convenient as I could carry them in my purse. Boots have given me a yellow piece of paper which is an awkward size and is rapidly disintegrating. Can I get a replacement plastic card anywhere? The pharmacist at Boots looked at me like I was mad, so perhaps this is a Scottish thing?

By the way, re the point about pharmacists not checking for your PPC... In my experience, if a pharmacist recognises you or you are known to the pharmacy is general, they don't bother checking. If you're new, or passing through, they will ask because they just don't know.

That said, I once needed to fill a prescription at a pharmacy that was new to me, didn't have my PPC with me and the chemist said I could get my script filed, but she would tick a box saying she hadn't seen my PPC and the NHS could come after me for proof if they wanted. Obviously it wouldn't have been an issue for me, as I had a valid PPC (just not on me!) but I would imagine that people who try to dodge paying are eventually pursued...?

malc_b

moneysaving_pharmacist wrote: »

malc_b, the prescription charge is the same regardless of the cost of the drugs, so some people win and some people lose. It is set by the government, so if you are unhappy write to your MP. And I have never seen penicillin capsules in the UK - a liquid is available, but only has a shelf life of 7-14 days.

Thanks moneysaving pharmacist. I cannot find a way to check what is available in the uk on NHS. There doesn't seem to be a authoritative list of approved drugs. I did find an internet site that would sell to UK (hmm...) and that had generic penicillin capsules. They seem readily available in the USA too. On price it is fair enough that some you lose, some you gain, if we are taking about the odd illness now and then. But this is penicillin for life, 13 prescriptions per year from 18 - 65. 3 month prescription would be reasonable but it seems the government has stopped that which is a back door way of increasing the costs for those on long term medication. I have raised this with my MP.

sharnad

I got a presciption today for anti bitocis

£7.10 for 6 tablets cost on chemist online 13p each RRP 15p each

Our presciptions are filled at the doctors

If these dont work I will have to go for another type in 3 days which will another £7.10 :mad:

moneysaving_pharmacist

malc_b wrote: »

Thanks moneysaving pharmacist. I cannot find a way to check what is available in the uk on NHS. There doesn't seem to be a authoritative list of approved drugs. I did find an internet site that would sell to UK (hmm...) and that had generic penicillin capsules. They seem readily available in the USA too. On price it is fair enough that some you lose, some you gain, if we are taking about the odd illness now and then. But this is penicillin for life, 13 prescriptions per year from 18 - 65. 3 month prescription would be reasonable but it seems the government has stopped that which is a back door way of increasing the costs for those on long term medication. I have raised this with my MP.

We have a slightly odd system in England and Wales. There is no list of drugs that are allowed on the NHS, but there is a list of drugs ('the blacklist) that can't be prescribed on the NHS - it largely consists of vitamins, tonics, cough medicines and branded medicines. Any drug (or food) that is not blacklisted can be prescribed and the pharmacy will be paid for it.

Although GPs can prescribe any drug that is not blacklisted, they may be asked to justify their reasons for prescribing. So a GP could prescribe penicillin capsules, which would have to either be imported or specially manufactured by a specials company and would cost a fortune, but they may have to bear the cost if they can't adequately justify their reason for prescribing.