I can't afford doctors appointment

LegacyUser

Firstly, I just want to state that I'm not looking for medical advice here, just general advice or a listening ear even!

I suffer from asthma but it only flares up sometimes but when it does, I feel unsafe without an inhaler handy and I noticed today that I only have about two weeks supply of my inhaler left. Mentioned this today when visiting my mother that I'd have to go to the doctor soon for a repeat prescription and she just barked at me saying 'can you not order something off the internet, it probably won't be fake'. I was shocked that she had even suggested this as I rarely go to the doctor but knew that she was angered by the suggestion that the doctor would be 50euro. (I'v just finished college and am currently unemployed so wouldn't have the money for it.) Thing is, I can't ask for a repeat prescription as I used to get it from the college doctor but now I'v finished and they are closed for the summer so this is not possible.

I'm just wondering if there is any reduced cost doctors around? I have currently applied for jobseekers allowance and am going to apply for a medical card next week but I'v been told that this could take ages to process. I can get the money to go to the doctor from my credit card so I'm not taking any medical risks just wondering if there are any cheaper ways around?
Thanks

cats.life

afraid to say but all doctors are the same charge, but dont order any thing from internet:eek: god knows what you get., go to your chemist and chat them mite have some solution.

tenchi-fan

It's a once off cost. Beg(1), borrow(2) or steal(3).
You can get repeat prescriptions in future.

(1)There is a chance the health board might provide one free of charge if you genuinely cannot afford one.
(2) However, if you are living at home and in will be in receipt of social welfare you should probably just borrow the money from your mother.
(3) Don't steal.

Another point.. are inhalers actually free? Do you not have to pay for them under the drugs payments scheme?

LegacyUser

If you are on the dole, you should be eligible for a medical card. You should apply immediately (tomorrow) - bring your application form and SW stuff to the doc to prove you've applied for it etc - if he's a family doctor and you have a relationship with him (if you've asthma, my guess is you know him/her well?). The doc should prescribe your meds for you based on that.
My brother recently had to do the same thing for a similar ailment. Medical card applications can take months and his doc understood and said he'd wait until the card came through and put the cost of that visit, on it, at that time.

Neyite

i know someone who got an inhaler from the chemist - they had his details on file from the last prescription, and he just bought it there and then.
no harm to ask the dispensing pharmacist in the place where you got your last one filled. all they can say is no.

my friend does this from time to time - rarely goes to the doc.

skepticalone

by law , a dispensing chemist must give you an inhaler , if you can satisfy him or her that you are indeed an asthmatic , most chemists will indeed give you one and ask you to please bring them your perscription when you get it so that they may mark it as dispensed , please do not leave yourself in the dangerous position of not having any ventolin left , I am a chronic asthmatic , and although you dont say how old you are op , i am in my 30s , and have my condition well controlled , however , at my age , a bad asthma attack could kill me , never take the chance , if you get stuck , go to the nearest chemist and explain that you have no inhaler and feel an attack coming on . There are certain drugs that a dispensing chemist may not withhold and inhalers are one of them , the cost of a generic alternative to ventolin will set you back in the region of 12 euros , ask your chemist if he stocks generic alternatives , they often work out cheaper .

Victor

tenchi-fan wrote: »

Another point.. are inhalers actually free? Do you not have to pay for them under the drugs payments scheme?

The cost of inhalers varies widely from a few euros to over €100.

up for anything

Take your medical card application straight into the office where they deal with them and if you explain your situation they may give you a letter saying that you have applied for a medical card which you can take to your local chemist with a promise to bring a prescription in when you obtain one.

Firetrap

What sort of inhaler is it? I use a Ventolin inhaler and once found myself in need of one but had left it at home. I went into a pharmacy, explained the situation and they sold me one.

mood

1/ Apply for the medical card NOW. Why wait til next wk?

2/ Any doctor will write the prescription it doesn't have to be you own doctor. Why not try the family doctor you went to before college? My doctor writes repeats for 20 euro as you don't need to actually see her.

3/ Chemists have an emergency supply of relievers so you can just walk in and buy one. Only 9 euro for ventolin.

Maybe you need your asthma looked at when you get the medical card.

I have asthma also so know for a fact what I have said is true.

MysticalSoul

skepticalone wrote: »

by law , a dispensing chemist must give you an inhaler , if you can satisfy him or her that you are indeed an asthmatic , most chemists will indeed give you one and ask you to please bring them your perscription when you get it so that they may mark it as dispensed , please do not leave yourself in the dangerous position of not having any ventolin left , I am a chronic asthmatic , and although you dont say how old you are op , i am in my 30s , and have my condition well controlled , however , at my age , a bad asthma attack could kill me , never take the chance , if you get stuck , go to the nearest chemist and explain that you have no inhaler and feel an attack coming on . There are certain drugs that a dispensing chemist may not withhold and inhalers are one of them , the cost of a generic alternative to ventolin will set you back in the region of 12 euros , ask your chemist if he stocks generic alternatives , they often work out cheaper .

The opposite happened me. I had left my prescription at home, had got my inhaler a couple of months from a certain pharmacy, so went there, and they told me they could not give it to me without a prescription. I know they tightened things up a few years back, so it could be they have relaxed a little again.

mood

Victor wrote: »

The cost of inhalers varies widely from a few euros to over €100.

Ventolin is quite cheap. Preventers can be more expensive. The most I have paid for a preventer was 40 euro I think. It sounds like the OP reliever is what has rant out. Chances are it's Ventolin.

Waternews

My GP's charge a smaller fee for a repeat prescription - I think it's e20, which you pay when you pick it up.
Obviously, they need to 'know' you - so if you've not been in the last 3-4 years while being at college, they mightn't oblige.

I'd also go down to your local HSE health centre and talk to them there - they might be able to suggest something, or give you some help with getting the medical card sorted out more quickly.

As others have said, your local pharmacy, or the one you usually use, may be able to help.

jockey#1

Apply for a medical card NOW online https://www.sspcrs.ie/portal/medapp/
They claim they can have your application turned around in 15 days.

Best of luck.

lolli

I applied for a medical card and got in back in a week ad a half. Apply now and you'll have it back before your inhaler runs out.

LegacyUser

I applied for a medical card and got in back in a week ad a half. Apply now and you'll have it back before your inhaler runs out.

erm wouldn't be depending on a medical card tbh, i think it depends on what area you're applying for the card in, mine took 5 months!, i was told the waiting list in my area was 4-8 months! (and it was very urgently needed at the time (due to health problems), and i don't live in a particularly big county!)

mood

ruusssssso wrote: »

erm wouldn't be depending on a medical card tbh, i think it depends on what area you're applying for the card in, mine took 5 months!, i was told the waiting list in my area was 4-8 months! (and it was very urgently needed at the time (due to health problems), and i don't live in a particularly big county!)

Well isn't it worth applying asap just in case???

A chemist will give the OP an inhaler. He/she can try a few. It's really not that big a problem. I've done it loads of times.

Firetrap

And whatever you do, don't get it off the internet. I know of someone who ordered medicine off the net who ended up in hospital.

Ostrom

I've picked a few up over the years without prescription in an emergency. Ask nicely, explain yourself and i'm sure you will be ok.

JuneBug29

If you're stuck you can get an emergency inhaler from a pharmacy. They sometimes don't like giving them out but based on the condition they should provide an asthmatic with an emergency inhaler if you NEED one. Most times if you explain to them that you NEED one and explain that you're running low and have no prescription they will be happy to help you out. They may ask you for your doctors details and your name and address. It's called an emergency inhaler for a reason though and they do have rules about this but if you do get stuck and cannot get a prescription a pharmacist can help you out. Just don't take the p*ss. They are NOT obliged to. It is best to get another prescription as soon as possible though as it's best to have the condition monitored.

Next time you can afford to go to the doctor, you might want to be asked to be referred to the asthma clinic. They can monitor your condition and i have gotten a few free inhalers from them.