Abolish The Ban On The Purchase Of Prescription Only Medication.

[david small]

Can’t get to see a GP, they are under their desk or On the golf course with Covid isolation. I know what I need, I know how to use it, but cannot acquire without prescription. I will pay, I want to pay, but can’t. Blocked seeing a GP. Blocked getting the medication. Options? Suffer, try alternatives? Done that. Can’t even buy antibiotic cream….cruel and unjustified. Things need to change.

[naomi24]

Yes, sanmac. I dread to think how much of it is wasted.

[THECORBYLOON]

"we should consider selling antibiotics over the counter as they do in some countries in Europe."

"Antibiotics are no longer routinely used to treat infections because:
•many infections are caused by viruses, so antibiotics are not effective
•antibiotics are often unlikely to speed up the healing process and can cause side effects
•the more antibiotics are used to treat trivial conditions, the more likely they are to become ineffective for treating more serious conditions

Both the NHS and health organisations across the world are trying to reduce the use of antibiotics, especially for health problems that are not serious."

Selling them over the counter is hardly going to improve the situation regarding resistance.

[anneasquith]

Please please don’t give antibiotics to just anyone who wants them. So many believe AB . are the answer to everything,.

[bednobs]

the nhs put a ban on prescribing lots of medicines that can be bought over the counter (including paracetamol) for minor or self limiting illnesses a few years ago naomi.
they can still be prescribed under limited circumstances.

[barry1010]

My health trust stopped prescribing items you can buy over the counter a few years ago with very few exceptions. GPs can prescribe Viagra, which can now be bought OTC, to men that fall into certain categories but only 4 tablets a month.
I used to get a certain foot cream for very dry skin on prescription because I am diabetic but now have to buy it.
Many years ago women could get sanitary towels on prescription but that stopped in the 60s.

[david small]

Thank you all for your suggestions and opinions.

[TherefinedByron]

What the doth is a GP? The apothecary?

[naomi24]

Good to know that they've stopped prescribing some things that may be bought over the counter - but it’s not enough. Some people take all they can get for free and that abuse needs to be addressed and stopped.

[rowanwitch]

It's a pain getting through to my practice, usually involves about 30 minutes redialling to get into the queuing system then about 15 minutes in the queue but I always get a callback from a Gp within about an hour,, and if they think it's necessary a face to face the same day. Appointments for the nurses usually within a week except the one who is the respiratory trained one who does asthma checks which may be a week or two. Repeat medication online, but there's a message section where I order the ad hoc stuff. And it magically appears at my local pharmacy a few days later.

I would add my voice to the horror at the thought of antibiotics being available without prescription. Antibiotic resistance is a ticking time bomb. We already have many resistant bugs some are now at the pretty much fully resistant stage. T
There are already other things that have come off the prescription only list and can now be sold under pharmacy control although some are sold only at half strength or lower but bearing in mind that some people would ignore instructions, I dread to think what would happen if they had easy access to some more condition specific items.

Btw. Just because a treatment worked for you in the past doesn't mean it's the right approach now. It's why doctors and to a lesser extent pharmacists have such a long training period and a requirement for continuing professional development.

[naomi24]

Hardly ‘horror’, Rowan. People elsewhere seem to survive on taking more responsibility for themselves. I wonder if the welfare state has created a nation of needy ‘entitled’ takers who know their rights and make every effort to ensure they don’t miss out. It’s certainly gone much further than was originally intended - and further than it can afford.

[rowanwitch]

I agree that some people abuse the system, I have heard of some older people going to their gp with supposed pain problems then passing out the prescription strength painkillers to family members. At the same time if a medication is needed and you are a on a low income you may not be able to buy over the counter. I certainly can't always afford the voltarol gel and migraleve I used to buy.

My local G P practice tends to take the approach of referrals to physios, or other services after a couple of prescriptions on the basis of if it's not an acute problem you need to find a long term solution. A recent policy change has annoyed a lot of patients who no longer always come away from appointments with a prescription but may instead get referred to the gym, social prescribing activities like gardening or walking groups or a counsellor.

[naomi24]

Of course those who can't afford it must be cared for. I have no objection whatsoever to that, which is the point I was making really. Without the 'takers' and the 'entitled' those who really need it would be cared for as they should be cared for.

[Peter Pedant]

Having had chemo on the NHS - I know why it is there.

Rituximab at £10 000 a bag ( luckily I was CD20 + - phew !) - "oh that is a bit of an overestimate, you could get it for £2500"
and then the (NHS) nurse said, "and yes they do say - your insurance has run out unless you turn up with a bag full of loolah, there will be nooooo retuximab...."

I have checked Chris - yoou should be able to get Canesten over the counter - Daiquiri is better - sozza Daktarin and I have never had any difficulty.

[Peter Pedant]

// Of course those who can't afford it must be cared for.//

I am glad to see a clarification - of "we shouldnt have an NHS" clarified to "we should have an NHS"
phew !
even tho this is aryan Bank on a sunny Saturday

[Peter Pedant]

// What the doth is a GP? The apothecary?//
Both cd presribe but it was a matter of class and cost

Jane Eyre - Jane is seen by the apothecary whilst the posh kid who ruins his mother is treated by a doctor ( house call - 1 gn - charge helluva lot in those days) - sozza "fee"

[naomi24]

PP, //"we shouldnt have an NHS" //

Who said that?

[davebro]

// What the doth is a GP? The apothecary?//

In the UK a GP is a General Practitioner. They usually work in community based clinics & prescribe treatment for the ills of the local populace or refer them to a hospital if necessary.

[10ClarionSt]

Most GP's in this country think that over 90% of the patients they see, don't need to be there. Some complaints are just trivial and minor. The trouble with being a GP is that if it wasn't for the patients, the job would be wonderful. GP's think there's nothing wrong with you. This will be borne out as the system makes it more restrictive to see a GP and you will still be ok without seeing one. Simples.

[New Judge]

There’s lots of talk on here about repeat prescriptions. He’ll correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think that’s what David is talking about. There are some recurrent conditions which are not chronic and for which a repeat prescription would not be appropriate. These require intermittent (rather than ongoing) medication and that requires a prescription written by a GP. If you can’t get to consult a GP you can’t get the prescription and hence cannot get treatment.

//Most GP's in this country think that over 90% of the patients they see, don't need to be there.//

Quite true – they need to be somewhere where they can consult somebody who can treat their ailment. The problem is that GPs perform the role of “gatekeeper” to those other places. It was OK when you could get an appointment reasonably easily with a GP. It is not OK now. My GP practice was never good but now it is abysmal. It took the opportunity in March 2020 to effectively close its doors and they have not been reopened. It’s an utter disgrace. The people of this country deserve better.

[dannyk13]

Naomi //ibuprofen for example…//
You can get Ibuleve ,which is basically Ibuprofen, without a prescription.