Too many prescriptions?

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

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

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.

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.

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 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.

Perhaps this could be a contributory factor:

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

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.

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?!

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.

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

Accepted, ana, but I don't really get it. Couldn't she just not have collected them from the pharmacy? If not, it looks as if there is a need for an education campaign about how, once meds have left a pharmacy, they cannot be returned to be used by someone else. I think pharmacies used to re-use, but they can't now because of a few cases of tampering and contamination.

Hey ho. I think we are basically in agreement, GT.

Just in case anyone doesn't know you can buy a prepayment certificate if you need to take regular meds and it can save a lot of money for those who have to pay for prescriptions.

You're right nina; I've forgotten so much in the course of a year . I always thought it was unfair that asthma sufferers in particular had to pay for their inhalers.

Yes they do if they apply for a Medical Exception Cert. I remember now, I had one till I reached 60

Tegan I thought diabetics got free prescriptions too. Though I could be wrong.

Not an excuse, just a reason.

thatbags, some people are so in awe of the whole medical profession that they will keep collecting their repeat prescriptions even though they have no intention of taking the medication, or have stopped for some reason. My aunt was like that - she didn't like to 'bother' her GP and had drawersful of unopened tablets when she died.

Other than cancer treatment drus the only condition I can think of off hand that results in free medication for any condition is when a patient is on thyroid treatment.

Slightly off topic.

I know that some conditions warrant free prescriptions I have no argument with that. I was surprised to hear that DD's friend has to pay for the drugs she takes regularly for mental health problems. Due to her condition she is on a low wage and struggles to pay.
I know the line has to be drawn but it seems mental health is always on the wrong side !

What 'excuses' (other than senility and similar problems) are there for patients stock-piling meds they aren't taking? I can't think of any.

Even good systems can go wrong. I think that recalls for smear tests, for instance, are probably done by clerical staff or the practice nurse and not directly via the GPs. It's easy to imagine a scenario where such a system broke down for some reason or other and not 'caught' for a while. It's also easy for someone (me) to remember that I was told when I was thirty that I should have a smear test done every three years. Small application of some mental arithmetic to ascertain if it's one of those years and then, if I don't get a note from the health centre, I can ring them and ask for an appointment.

Multiply that sort of scenario by thousands... Not making excuses, just being realistic. And responsible.

I'm not disagreeing with you about personal responsibility bags but saying that doctors have to have good systems in place to ensure that they scoop up those not able to take responsibility fully and who will generally have greater and more complex health problems. So yes in some cases actually it is solely the doctors responsibility. The default position should be good systems in place - which is very easy to achieve - and then overlay that with personal responsibility as appropriate.

I agree.

Not excusing doctors, GT, just saying it isn't only their responsibility because I think anyone who is able should also take responsibility, as far as they can, for their health. I realise some people won't agree with that view.