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[lorie]

I've recently stopped taking Elleste duet because of weight gain, bloating, stomach cramps and generally feeling rubbish. Before this I was on Femseven Sequi which suited me really well except for the fact that the patches never stuck - so I was hoping to get Oestrogel as an alternative.
My doctor has said that our local NHS Client Commissioning Group (Brighton and Hove) do not allow this type of HRT to be prescribed. I know other people have got this on the NHS and wondered if anyone had any experience of challenging a CCG or do I have to give up and go private or go back to FemSeven and swallow the cost of constant replacing of patches- not sure which would be cheaper in the long run?
Also if anyone has any knowledge of private clinics/costs
Any help/ suggestions appreciated

[Dotty]

They are definitely available on the nhs!

[Tinkerbell]

Yes, I have estrogel prescribed on the NHS, when I first asked to try it after I get fed up with patches the GP I had the appointment with said it was our surgery's policy to only prescribe patches or pills...so I had to push for it!

[Daisydot]

Do you have another gp in practice you can go to or failing that write to practice manager and ask for confirmation of this.xx

[lorie]

It's not the doctor, he was more than happy to prescribe but the surgery can only prescribe what the local clinical commissioning group allows and in Brighton and Hove they don't allow topical oestrogen. The doctor was a locum and said he was able to prescribe it when he works in other local authority areas but not in Brighton and Hove - so I wondered if anyone had come up against a CCG not allowing surgeries to prescribe.

[Joaniepat]

This ridiculous rule is ageist to say the least. Transdermal products are recommended for women over 60 because they bypass the liver and are "safer". I'm sure other, younger women also have good reasons to require transdermal oestrogen. Whatever happened to "do no harm"?

Let us know how you get on if you challenge them. Good luck and I hope you get what you need in the end.

JP x

[Mary G]

It still seems very hit and miss as to whether you can get Oestrogel and Utrogestan on the NHS.   Some people get it easily, others are still refused and as one member's doctor said, they don't have to prescribe it, the NICE guidelines are just that, guidelines.

From what I can make out the NHS is having a funding crisis and patches and pills are cheaper so they guide everyone in that direction because it suits them.   What you could do is obtain Oestrogel and Utrogestan on a private prescription and ask the doctor to write to your GP recommending their prescription and then you might be able to swing it on the NHS thereafter.  Professor Studd would do a telephone consultation and write to your doctor with his recommended prescription.   You could phone his secretary and discuss it with her, she will also be able to guide you re obtaining it from the NHS.

If all else fails, just go on holiday to Spain and buy it yourself.   You could tell your doctor that this is what you will do if they refuse to prescribe it.

[lorie]

Thanks everyone, it is ridiculous especially when i found out the FemSeven patches actually cost more. I've decided to try how I go managing with exercise only, as I haven't taken anything for about 10 days and have no symptoms so far 
I have a doctors appointment next week to discuss and I'll ask if the CCG decision can be challenged and who to talk to about it. Failing that I have a friend who lives in Spain so may explore that route

[dangermouse]

You can also buy those online in the U.K. to try first. Have a Google.