Too many prescriptions?

She had to collect them, or her GP would have found out she wasn't taking them.

Pharmacies still have to liase, to a certain degree with the patients medical practice and non ordering of a certain medication will show up at medication review time.

I agree Ana, my very elderly parents seem to view their GPs as Gods, never to be questioned! Unless my sisters or I step in, sadly seems to be increasingly often, then they'd be in a right pickle . As for their being prescribed statins...it's taken nearly 6 months to get the pair of them anywhere near to where they were before they started taking them- they had just about every side effect going, became really poorly and refused to question the doctors. Their GPs' attitudes were shocking.....until I got a Consultant Geriatrician to review their medication and he pretty well took them off everything. Why the hell do some GPs just carry on prescribing yet more drugs to counteract others already taken?!

Our recently retired pharmacist, who only opened in the mornings, was employed by the local Health Dept. to go through lists and lists of patients in the local area reviewing their prescriptions and referring them back to their GP if he thought there should be changes/ additions. That's how he spent his afternoons - probably more money in that than a small village pharmacy.

Perhaps this could be a contributory factor:

www.theguardian.com/society/2013/apr/05/drug-companies-pay-doctors-40m

I am on 4 lots of prescription drugs and I probably miss one drug from each in the entire year, an d usually for a good cause ie d&v. They cost money and in my opinion, must not be wasted.

We have to phone if we want to have a repeat of any prescription, I don't think they are sent to the chemist automatically.

I agree about the asthma sufferers Tegan My thinking with the drugs for mental health patients is that the treatment could be life saving in the respect of those who may at times be suicidal. I know from experience that not all patients have suicidal tendencies but those that do need their meds.

rose Boots contact DH's GP every 2 mths and the scrip is sent to them automatically.

We cannot request a repeat from our GP by phone. It has to be done on line (rubbish service) or in writing.

Where was this reported? Sorry if someone has already told us - trying to catch up with GN!

It's the HSCIC (but also widely reported in the Press):

healthsurvey.hscic.gov.uk/support-guidance/public-health/health-survey-for-england-2013/use-of-prescribed-medicines.aspx