Repeat prescriptions

[Proxima Centauri]

I was told by the Gardens Surgery that it is clinical practice to give out only 2 months at a time. I always used to get 3 months as I have a longstanding medical condition. Has anyone else not been able to get 3 months' worth of repeat prescriptions in one go?

[Freddy1929]

It seems the practice now to only give 2 months on prescriptions, I think it's so the people who pay for each item on a prescription, pay more over the year!

[the-e-dealer]

Even if you have a prepayment certificate they will only give 2 months.

[Jessie]

I got three months last time (last week) but (for once)I had a very lovely and empathetic doctor (a locum. Natch.)

Edited to say, not at The Gardens

[James Barber]

My experience is that it's down to the doctor. I've had 2 months complained and then had 3 months and then occassionally it reverts to 2 months.

Clearly for many conditions they should give out 6 month prescriptions but they must have some financial incentive to inconvenience patients, waste doctor and pharmacist time.

I'd suggest you complain to your GP practice and if you don't get satisfaction complain to england.contactus@nhs.net

[buggie]

James, might be worth looking into getting a prescription passport

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/PPC.aspx

which would put a limit on your annual payments on all NHS charges. My mum has done this for several years and found it v useful.

[minder]

With a lot of patients it's nothing to do with payment or sometimes wasting doctors time. OAPs don't pay and often don't like to waste doctors time so they become reliant on getting repeat prescriptions for their conditions with no reviews of their medication (6 months is a long time) unless they have people supporting them.

From my experience (my Mum and Dad and Mother and Father in law) I think it's good that docs are only giving out 2 months supply of a medication at a time.

Edited to say that my Mum-in-laws doctor was very good when I collected her prescription a few weeks ago. There was a note to say that they needed to see and review her medication and she agreed with this.

[PeckhamRose]

Oh, and go to the individual surgery forums and raise a question; the practice manager will ask.