Criminal waste of NHS money

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I had a telephone consultation with a doctor from my GP practice last week and he prescribed me an additional tablet to add to the 16 or so I already take. After I put the phone down I checked this on the NHS website only to find that it would be very likely to make another problem very much worse. I immediately messaged the surgery to ask them to cancel the prescription and received a phone call from another doctor yesterday agreeing with me but she said it couldn’t be cancelled as it had already been issued to me and that I would have to hand it back to be destroyed. What a terrible waste of resources.

This happens to be lots as new meds are tried. Once prescribed for you they go in the bin if unused even if the packet is still sealed.

It’s disgraceful and has been discussed many times on here. Some of these drugs cost hundreds of pounds.
It’s not just drugs it’s elastic stockings, colostomy bags, fortified vitamin drinks etc. I had to dispose of about £300 worth of these.

And also walking sticks and frames... they do not ask for them back round here.

In a Hospital you have a area Pharmacist who checks everyone's medication. They have very junior Doctors who can make mistakes, so they check the Med charts.

GP don't have this when they issue another meds, it shouldn't happen. This is surely a job for AI in the future. To stop contra indications of medication.

Couldn’t agree more. Absolutely shocking waste.

I’m not defending the error in prescription, but GP pharmacists who are now present in surgeries are the experts in medication interactions, rather than the GPs. GPs cover a vast range of patient presentations, and medicines is a very complex field too, nobody can know everything. For somebody on a complex drug regime, the GP would ideally check with the pharmacist before prescribing an additional one. The pharmacists do review the patients in this category, but not before prescriptions are issued unless specifically asked.

Our pharmacy claims that they only have to destroy medication if it has physically been taken out of the premises. I always check mine at the counter and hand back anything dispensed that I do not need on that occasion and it goes back into stock. Naturally this doesn’t happen very often as I order my own meds but a GP did once push a prescription through that was no longer required.

Wouldn't you think that by now all levels of the NHS would have all patients details 'computerized' (for want of a better word) to a level where such things would automatically be flagged up as potential problems?

Same goes for things like our medical history and test results- why are results of investigations not entered onto the computer the moment they are known, and follow-up plans added as soon as the relevant person makes the decision?
That way, everyone treating the patient, including their GP, would also have instant access to the progress /results of any referrals that they have made, rather than having to waste time and money phoning the patient to ask them for an update.

I really can't fault any of the medical professionals who I have seen recently, but its made me really aware that the recording system itself doesnt seem to be anywhere near good enough.

Luckygirl3

And also walking sticks and frames... they do not ask for them back round here.

Nor round here.
I was astounded.

Most people would happily and willingly give them back.

There is actually a place to do so, but not actively encouraged.