Repeat prescription and seeing a doctor

Gerry T

I'm on long term meds for a heart attack 4 yrs ago. My GP retired and I changed doctor a yr ago. At the new practice I get a 6 month prescription but they have a rule you need to have a doctors visit every 6 months if your on long term meds.

I appreciate that there are risks associated with being on meds long term and a Doctor needs to assess the risks and make sure they review a patients condition.

But, I'm thinking twice a yr is too much and costly. I would be happy seeing the doctor every 12 months or 18 months with 1 or 2 repeat scripts between visits.

Is it a requirement that you have to see a doctor every 6 months when on long term meds ? if not I will change doctor.

Wellyd

I have to go see my doctor every 6 months for my prescription. I think it's standard practice.

gaz wac

I have an ulcer and long term meds for it, my Doc don't want to see me, but she does want to see my €25 for my repeat prescription every 6 months

MrWalsh

Its a total rip off depending on your medication but I am in the same boat for ventolin and sinus spray.

Gerry T

Wellyd wrote: »

I have to go see my doctor every 6 months for my prescription. I think it's standard practice.

Thanks, but my last doc didn't but he was "old school".

I'm just trying to find out if its a requirement or if its doctors procedure....we may have the same doctor !!

Gerry T

gaz wac wrote: »

I have an ulcer and long term meds for it, my Doc don't want to see me, but she does want to see my €25 for my repeat prescription every 6 months

That's better than 65e every 6 months.

Annabella1

With respect,you had a life threatening event 4 years ago.

I would be attending a doctor at least twice a year

Gerry T

Annabella1 wrote: »

With respect,you had a life threatening event 4 years ago.

I would be attending a doctor at least twice a year

No problem. Each case is different. I was very lucky, an intermittent blockage and I had a stent installed within 50min of first symptom. Tests have shown that there is zero permanent damage to my heart. I have heart disease but not a weak heart.
I get annual bloods and other tests (full day blood pressure etc...) done.

Going to a doctor is in itself pointless, its the tests that are important. But the doctor I see isn't saying that in my case its every 6 months, he says that's a blanket rule. I'm trying to find out if that's a medical requirement or just this doctors standards

his_dudeness

Taken from the Medical Councils Guide to Professional Conduct

59.7
You must ensure as far as possible that any treatment, medication or therapy prescribed for a patient is safe, evidence-based and in the patient’s best interests. You should be particularly careful when prescribing multiple medications in case the combination might cause side effects. You should also take particular care when prescribing for patients who may have an impaired ability to metabolise the medication prescribed. You should weigh up the potential benefits with the risks of drug adverse effects and interactions when deciding what to prescribe. This also applies to the exercise of the prescribing of generic drugs. A patient’s treatment regime should be reviewed periodically

It's likely up to the doctor to decide when and if they want to review you. Its their ass on the line if something untoward was to happen, and yet they need to balance out clogging up clinics with unnecessary reviews. 6 months is a pretty standard review period

Gerry T

his_dudeness wrote: »

Taken from the Medical Councils Guide to Professional Conduct



It's likely up to the doctor to decide when and if they want to review you. Its their ass on the line if something untoward was to happen, and yet they need to balance out clogging up clinics with unnecessary reviews. 6 months is a pretty standard review period

Thanks for that. I may be wrong but it looks like its illegal to have a prescription longer than 6 months, which implies you should be reviewed at 6 month interval.

So how does anyone get a repeat prescription. i.e. if you see a doc and get a 6 month one, then you have to go back to the doc?

I may be wrong but imposing a mandatory 6 month interval is not in line with the clause your mention. But the majority of answers here are pointing toward a 6 month interval so I guess that is the standard.

palmcut

It is good medical sense as well as being a legal requirement to have your prescription renewed every 6 months. Some prescriptions require monthly renewal.
It is illegal for your pharmacy to dispense a prescription that is out of date.

sam34

I'm coming at this from a different perspective, I'm a hospital consultant, (psychiatrist) not a GP. I make no extra money on appointments, I only have public patients. The longest review appointment I give people is 6 months (obviously there are loads coming more frequently than that). The view I take is that I'm clinically responsible for their care and the buck stops with me if something goes wrong. I don't think it's good practice to let them go longer than 6 months without medical review. Also, I think people with chronic conditions who will be attending long term should have a consultant review at least once a year- realistically I can't see every patient at every clinic and some will be seen by the SHO but I have a system in place to ensure I see everyone at least once a year. I think patiients deserve that, rather than seeing a different SHO every 6 months.

CarefulNow!

I see docs in hospital at least once a month but my gp still charges me full whack on getting repeat prescription. 75 quid to pick up a prescription and needlessly take my Bp.... Rip off

If I ever do go with an issue the response is usually go to the hospital clinic for further treatment, 55 euro please. I'm in the process of finding a better doc

Gael23

It varies from one Doctor to the other and also the kind of medication and the specific problem would be a factor.
Two years ago now, my medication was changed and I was in monthly for a while, then it went to 3 months and now its 6. More often than notI have another reason to go in at least that often so I've no problem with it.

byhookorbycrook

CarefulNow! wrote: »

I see docs in hospital at least once a month but my gp still charges me full whack on getting repeat prescription. 75 quid to pick up a prescription and needlessly take my Bp.... Rip off

If I ever do go with an issue the response is usually go to the hospital clinic for further treatment, 55 euro please. I'm in the process of finding a better doc

Why don't you get the hosp dr to do your scripts?