Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[Alis girls]

Oh Tiggy you will rue the day you started this thread with people like me here.. Many as said wont pay for the smalllest thing and the worse are not always the elderly or those on benefits - but people who think the NHS is a bottomless pot. I have travelled to Europe and despite the EHIC card found myself paying for care and having to claim back. The NHS is made far too easy for people to abuse.

[sari]

I was horrified to find out that friends of mine get calpol, etc on script....I just buy it from boots, and you get it even cheaper if you sign up to their kids'club or whatever...I have several items on my scrip nowadays due to hideous IBS, and anxiety disorder. I have a prepay card, and am also aware that the prescrip charge is more than the cost of some meds, but amazingly cheaper than the cost of others....but I do think that GPs should not prescribe calpol unless someone is on a reduced income....slighlty confused ramble there

 

On a slightly related topic....I work in a Primary school, and pick up all kinds of nasyies, have had impetigo, headlice, warts on my finger, from a child I worked with......conjunctivitis.....norovirus, swine flu.......threadworms are doing the rounds at the minute, may the Gods keep me free of THAT.....so it costs me a fortune in work related illness........I wouldn't mind a free scrip for this!!

[Tiggy]

This is a tough one, isn't it? I suspect that the minority who abuse the system are in danger of stopping those in genuine need from getting things they need for free?

This is an incredibly dim question, but would it be cheaper (for the nhs) if your surgery could actually give e.g. paracetomol or other OTC meds directly to patients rather than having to issue a script which the patient then takes to the chemist? I'm not talking about for people with a hangover though!

I'm not sure where the limit should be, but I think probably OTC stuff that costs less than say £2 shouldn't be available on script (I think £5 is too high, that's a big chunk out of someone's weekly benefit?)

Alternatively, what if everyone had to pay say £1 when they get a script for OTC meds, regardless of means? That would stop people asking for a script for a 16p box of asprin?

 

now we are getting somewhere, thanks Bramble, we need to bounce ideas around so that we get a fair proposal to put to the DOH,

[Snowy]

This is a tough one, isn't it? I suspect that the minority who abuse the system are in danger of stopping those in genuine need from getting things they need for free?

This is an incredibly dim question, but would it be cheaper (for the nhs) if your surgery could actually give e.g. paracetomol or other OTC meds directly to patients rather than having to issue a script which the patient then takes to the chemist? I'm not talking about for people with a hangover though!

I'm not sure where the limit should be, but I think probably OTC stuff that costs less than say £2 shouldn't be available on script (I think £5 is too high, that's a big chunk out of someone's weekly benefit?)

Alternatively, what if everyone had to pay say £1 when they get a script for OTC meds, regardless of means? That would stop people asking for a script for a 16p box of asprin?

 

now we are getting somewhere, thanks Bramble, we need to bounce ideas around so that we get a fair proposal to put to the DOH,

 

Some GP practices already have pharmacies attached don't they? I wonder if they work in this way already, or are they run as a completely seperate business?

[Tiggy]

Oh Tiggy you will rue the day you started this thread with people like me here.. Many as said wont pay for the smalllest thing and the worse are not always the elderly or those on benefits - but people who think the NHS is a bottomless pot. I have travelled to Europe and despite the EHIC card found myself paying for care and having to claim back. The NHS is made far too easy for people to abuse.

 

I agree Alis Girls, we cannot tar every group with the same brush, I often find pensioners who go to the chemist first before they see us at the surgery, many of them remember what it was like before we had an nhs, and not everyone on benefits abuses the system, unfortunately the few who do, do it big time and make it very bad for everyone else. We need a way of making things fair for everyone whilst cutting the opportunity for those who fiddle it. There will always be those who are out to make a few quid at the expense of everyone else, like the ones who were selling their prescription nicotine patches locally that they had free on script

[Tiggy]

Some GP practices already have pharmacies attached don't they? I wonder if they work in this way already, or are they run as a completely seperate business?

 

they are run as seperate business usually, some rural practices dispence directly but most GP surgerys dont

[quickcluck]

Could wastage not be looked into at some point???

 

It's criminal to see how many drugs are chucked down the loo or returned to the Drs or pharmacies. But because they have been dispensed once they have to be destroyed, despite being in either a sealed box or now most drugs come in blister strips.

 

I know some meds are prescribed on a monthly basis to counteract this, but there is still a lot going down the drain!

[Tiggy]

Could wastage not be looked into at some point???

 

It's criminal to see how many drugs are chucked down the loo or returned to the Drs or pharmacies. But because they have been dispensed once they have to be destroyed, despite being in either a sealed box or now most drugs come in blister strips.

 

I know some meds are prescribed on a monthly basis to counteract this, but there is still a lot going down the drain!

 

absolutely the whole culture needs to be changed. There needs to be a massive government campaign to educate the general population about the real cost of their medications. thats another one on my list thanks quickcluck

[Bramble]

There will always be those who are out to make a few quid at the expense of everyone else, like the ones who were selling their prescription nicotine patches locally that they had free on script

 

Blimey, I had no idea that happened. If that's the case, then I think the only sanction there is a criminal record, that has to be fraud, surely?

[Tiggy]

There will always be those who are out to make a few quid at the expense of everyone else, like the ones who were selling their prescription nicotine patches locally that they had free on script

 

Blimey, I had no idea that happened. If that's the case, then I think the only sanction there is a criminal record, that has to be fraud, surely?

 

yes it is fraud and you'd be amazed how often it happens, so many times we are asked to do replacement scripts because of 'lost' medications, of course there are genuine resasons and we dont want to deny someone their medication

[rachelk]

I'm the Dispenser in a Dispensing Practice. We are not allowed to sell anything at all, even if it is an OTC medicine. We are also not allowed to suggest that the patient buys the product, even if we know that it could be bought in a Chemist. There are very strict rules as to what can and can't be prescribed, and how much of it. We are very lucky in that not many patients ask us to deviate from the rules (the probably ask the Doc's before they get to us!)

[kerryegg]

Thanks for the info about Sainsbury allowing the paracetamol. never thought to ask at Tesco. Although I am entitled to free presciptions I always ask if I can buy something cheaply and conversly am paying for my own toel nail stuff as I know the problem was caused by leaving varnish on continually. £19.99, I doubt if my GP would have prescibed it. Good topic, lots of food for thought here.

[Tiggy]

I'm the Dispenser in a Dispensing Practice. We are not allowed to sell anything at all, even if it is an OTC medicine. We are also not allowed to suggest that the patient buys the product, even if we know that it could be bought in a Chemist. There are very strict rules as to what can and can't be prescribed, and how much of it. We are very lucky in that not many patients ask us to deviate from the rules (the probably ask the Doc's before they get to us!)

 

nice to hear from you, Ive no experiance of dispensing practices its good to get your views

[Cinnamon]

I agree but in my case the doctor suggested I take 8 paracetamol a day..........I don't ....... but if I did I would have to keep driving at least 5 miles every couple of days to buy them. I don't know if you can get anything to let you buy more than 16, that would make sense and save money.

 

Sainsbury's allow customers to buy 2 packs of 16. If you need more , you have to ask the Pharmacist. The one time I needed to, it wasn't a problem.

 

H

 

I thought you were allowed to buy 2 packs anywhere,but never more than 2?

I know that where I work I physically cannot put more than 2 medications through the till on one transaction - so a woman buying LemSip,Paracetamol & Calpol can't buy them.

We are also told that we cannot let the customer the buy the third item after buying the other two

Most people just go to a different till

[craftyhunnypie]

Hmm well - I think if you abuse your body then you shouldn't be given free health care. You should pay a lot!

By abuse I mean over consumption of alcohol, lack of exercise & very poor diet... eg couch potato, huge spirit drinker & lots of high suger & fried food.

 

Emma.x

[Blackrocksrock]

I am quite happy to pay for my paracetamol - if there are 2 of you in the house with flu/bad colds - thats 16 tablets in a day - 2 packets dont go far - I buy them every time I am in the supermarket - 2 packets as I hate to have none! I would be happy if the doctor could prescribe 100 tablets for me - I have arthritis anyway and take them now and again and still pay the normal price just to get the quantity! I dont want it cheaper or subsidised by anyone - its the only pain relief I buy - I get others on presc but stopped using them,

[Charlottechicken]

absolutely the whole culture needs to be changed. There needs to be a massive government campaign to educate the general population about the real cost of their medications.

 

 

There's the crux of it!

[abwsco]

Just back from inlaws and was amazed to see that MiL has vitamins on a script. Why on earth is the GP doing that

[Tiggy]

here's another for you, one of my collegues was aked to do a script for chloramphenicol (antibiotic eye drops) becaue the perosn could claim for it on their health insurance instead of spending £4 getting it over the counter, the world has gone mad. the one thing I know about health insurance is that its expensive and once that you've claimed they wont pay again for the rest of the year so if this person needs new specs later this year they wont be able to claim for them with any luck.

[Leicester_H]

Sainsbury's allow customers to buy 2 packs of 16. If you need more , you have to ask the Pharmacist. The one time I needed to, it wasn't a problem.

H

I thought you were allowed to buy 2 packs anywhere,but never more than 2?

As I understand it, in the uk, there is no law as such that specifies a maximum. There is a recommended maximum of 32 to be sold over the counter as standard practice, and most shops and pharmacies stick to this. So its easiest simply to prevent till staff selling more than 32.

 

In a pharmacy, the pharmacist can use his or her discretion as to whether or not to sell more. So if you need more, go to a proper pharmacist and explain why. They will use their common sense. They know that anyone intent on overdosing will simply shop around so theres no point penalising people who really need them.

[Tiggy]

Sainsbury's allow customers to buy 2 packs of 16. If you need more , you have to ask the Pharmacist. The one time I needed to, it wasn't a problem.

H

I thought you were allowed to buy 2 packs anywhere,but never more than 2?

As I understand it, in the uk, there is no law as such that specifies a maximum. There is a recommended maximum of 32 to be sold over the counter as standard practice, and most shops and pharmacies stick to this. So its easiest simply to prevent till staff selling more than 32.

 

In a pharmacy, the pharmacist can use his or her discretion as to whether or not to sell more. So if you need more, go to a proper pharmacist and explain why. They will use their common sense. They know that anyone intent on overdosing will simply shop around so theres no point penalising people who really need them.

 

thanks for that,

[Charlottechicken]

That's why you can buy three packs of aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen in Poundland then! I did wonder.

[Tiggy]

Ive sent my letter to DOH, it will be interesting to see what they say, I'll keep you posted.

[bronze]

I buy paracetemol, ibuprofen and calpol (or equiv) in bulk from bookers.

I'm glad I do. I'm currently living on them at th emoment and would have to send dh out daily otherwise.

 

The thyroid meds is interesting. In Kosova my mum buys her meds and its something like 16p a month. It makes sense for them not to be on prescription otherwise that would be a whole lot of profit. It doesnt make sense though that things like asthma meds are prescription though. It nearly killed my husband once.

[CatieB]

The thyroid meds is interesting. In Kosova my mum buys her meds and its something like 16p a month. It makes sense for them not to be on prescription otherwise that would be a whole lot of profit.

 

When I was diagnosed with my thyroid problem my very old fashioned, now retired GP, explained to me that the reason the meds are free is because the consequences to the NHS if you didn't take them, the fact that not getting the dose right can lead to other health problems and mainly the fact that I could have a lorry load for under two quid!!! (his words)