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[Postmeno3]

This is the situation I have found myself in today and wonder if anyone else has found this to be the case? To make matters worse, the news was delivered by a receptionist and was directed by a gp I have no dealings with. I hope I have got it across that there must be communication with the specialists and not me where what has been prescribed is queried. I'm so upset!

[Haydo]

Yes, I have.  I was prescribed an item by a consultant gynaecologist which was refused initially by a junior GP I had had no dealings with.  I wrote a letter to the GP ( with a copy to the Practice Manager) who had referred me to the consultant initially, explaining the position and saying if there was an issue to please contact the consultant for clarification.  The next day I had a phone call telling me the prescription was ready for me to collect.   

It is ridiculous and frustrating we have to jump through these hoops, and I quite understand how you feel.  I was livid and upset when it happened to me. 

[Postmeno3]

Hmmmmmmm.......it seems, according to the guidance on gp prescribing, documented by the BMA, that the gp signing the prescription is legally responsible for it and should therefore only sign it "if they are in agreement with the specialist that the medication is appropriate" (!) and, beyond that, that they are knowledgeable enough about it to take legal responsibility for signing the prescription. Interesting! The document does state that most gps are willing to sign "suggested" prescriptions from specialists.

[CLKD]

Ring the specialist! 

[Postmeno3]

Not possible to do that directly. However, I immediately spoke with both the clinic and the surgery admin to clarify that any querying is only done through the specialist, but I think I'll take up the tip about writing to the referring gp only and the practice manager so that everyone is clear about who is contacted about such matters. I.e......not me! I'll also be sure to say that a receptionist should not be put in that position.

[pepperminty]

Just ask them to write you a letter stating exactly why they are refusing to prescribe  treatment eg on what medical grounds.

I bet you get it pretty quick then. Unless there is a sound medical reason why you should not prescribed treatment they would be in hot water .  Also as long as the patient is aware of the risk benefit ratio and understands then it is also patient choice. They are there to help us not to make things difficult.

Good luck , stand strong.

PMXX

[sheila99]

Is this testosterone or something else? T seems to be a special case because there isn't a product licensed for women.

[Postmeno3]

No, it's my regular prescription. I have to go through a gp to get it onto repeat. It seems a terribly complicated and now risky process!

[sheila99]

If there's another gp who is more sympathetic you could try them, if not complain to the practice manager. Unless there's a very good reason for it a gp shouldn't override the advice of a specialist. My meno clinic is in a hospital with a dispensing pharmacy and they have written a prescription for me which can only be used there. Would that be an option?
  Perhaps next time you have an appointment you could ask them to tell the gp to give you 3 months supply, or if your treatment is settled by then to put it on repeat.
  I don't have a problem with hrt but every time I need tostran I have a battle to get it so I can sympathise with your situation.

[Postmeno3]

I just think the whole thing has been handled very badly at the surgery. This is the second time in only three reviews, the third this week, that it has come to me, rather than the specialists, to explain, justify or make decisions about my prescriptions. The first time was from the attached pharmacist and now from a gp I never see and who knows nothing about this new trial and error journey I am on, which is difficult enough, but has not the decency to call me herself to explain why she is refusing; on what informed basis on medical grounds (of which there are none). To be asked which one, internal or external, I feel is of the most benefit as I "can't have both" within a process of trial and error in which I can't possibly know myself at this stage is both humiliating and, far more worryingly, devoid of understanding of menopause management. These sorts of discussions should not be three-way with receptionists, however. Yes, it would seem by far the simplest thing to receive the prescription directly from the prescriber, but it seems the specialists are deemed to be making recommendations or suggestions for the gp to approve as it is the gp who is legally responsible for any outcome from what they have signed? I was told by the specialist that the gp "needs to know" what they're signing. It just all seems a needlessly complicated process as the more people that are involved, the greater likelihood of this sort of chaos.
We all know how difficult this process can be, especially initially, but ironically made worse by the very issues we need our prescriptions for.

[CLKD]

It could be down to money!

[Postmeno3]

It's really important I get this resolved as if it's this difficult getting prescriptions within the NHS, or my personal experience of the NHS, I've no hope of getting private ones respected!

[sheila99]

It might be better to refuse to discuss it with the receptionist. I've done this before, I've just said it's medically confidential and I will discuss it with the doctor but not with them. It really is none of their business. It's appalling the one who refused your prescription didn't even talk to you first. Perhaps insist on an appointment with them? At the very least they can explain why they think they know better than the specialist.

[Postmeno3]

I felt sorry for the receptionist. She's only doing what is being avoided by the gp. There is not a climate conducive to negotiating discussion, sadly. I wouldn't want to provide the opportunity for confrontation. The letter is the answer. Completely ignoring that particular gp, the other.

[Postmeno3]

Well, I felt a great surge of relief and hope in handing in two letters at the surgery; one for the referring gp and the other for the practice manager. I explained to both that any querying of my prescriptions must go directly to the specialists and not to me. I was asked when I handed them over to the receptionist if my name was on them??
🤞