Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: nicolcarrie70 on June 24, 2017, 10:27:05 AM
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My GP insists on prescribing at fortnightly intervals! Is this the norm?
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Mine is driving me nuts by only prescribing three months worth.
I think fortnightly is very unusual to be honest and must be costing you a fortune.
Can you ask for more.
Mrs Brown
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I get fed up putting prescriptions in
Estrogel...I use 3 pumps a day and only get given two bottles at a time...so every six weeks I need another script
Vagifem need one every day, sometimes double up if a blip, so again that is roughly another script every 5 weeks.
BP tablets only get two boxes...so 8 weeks worth
And Ovestin cream only get given one tube of that at a time!
It never all runs out together at the same time!
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I get one pack of patches each time. However, because I half them they last for 2 months. Even when using full patch it was 2 monthly.
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If it's any help, I also have lots of medications and was spending a fortune at the chemist. When one of my prescription collections came up to £80 I was horrified. My pharmacist then told me that everyone can apply for a 'NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate' which costs £104 (I think) and lasts a year. Every chemist will give you a form for this and it saves a fortune!
Good luck
Jo x
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I agree Jo, I've had a PPC for many years. If you have regular meds it's often cost effective to do so.
Aside from the inconvenience of having to constantly reorder repeat meds, if you're struggling to pay nicol could you discuss this with the GP? I think that some GPs take the view that HRT is ever changing with some women therefore it's sensible to limit the scripts until the best option is found. Less cost less wastage! Pain in the butt though!
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I don't pay fortunately as I'm in Scotland.
I'm forever grateful that hubby doesn't pay as diabetics use so much....just stuff...as well as insulin.
He never manages to tell me all that he needs so I'm back and forward to the chemists like a yo yo ::)
Mrs Brown
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I only get enough for a month at a time. The surgery is 3 miles away. They have a dispensary at the surgery, but for political reasons will not dispense for us so we have to go elsewhere. The pharmacy in the town several times have said they can't source my patches, so I now go to another town. It gets rather tiresome, particularly if I'm not well. I no longer have to pay, for which I'm very grateful, but before that I had a PPC as I have to have several items for asthma, as well as HRT stuff.
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Thank you all, it's interesting how many GP's use a varying degree of discretion!
Yes, I do go to my surgery and need to see a doctor every 2 weeks for my HRT! I can't think 'how' this is a productive use of their time??? When resources are so stretched this must be such a drain on the NHS.
I did offer to get a private prescription for some items i.e. Oestriol 0.01% Cream but was shocked when my local Boots pharmacy quoted £60 per tube!!!
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When you reach 60 in England you won't have to pay ;)
It's also a month between each medication ......... GPs can't prescribe any closer unless it's trialling a new med for a patient.
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Boots automatically adds a (not very cheap) handling charge for private prescriptions. Go and ask your local pharmacy for a quote.