Getting a prescription without a GP

[tommytaylor]

Is this possible, I've been with my doctor (who I very rarely use) since childhood but they keep sending me letters/texts etc telling me I need to find a new GP as I don't live in the catchment area anymore. This is after moving out of the area 12 years ago yet they have only recently been hassling me about it.

The doctors I need to sign up with is in the next town along which to be quite frank is a dystopian hell hole, no matter how ill I become I will not be sat in a waiting room full of fat tattooed women screaming at little chantel for hours at a time.

However I have a repeat prescription for blood pressure tablets and I use the lloyds direct thing to get them delivered but apparently they have to ask the GP before they send them out, even though its a medicine for life for me.

So is there a way to just get the tablets delivered every month without the hassle of a GP?

[ozzuk]

My employer gives me access to online GP service which can be used for prescriptions though I haven't tried it. I do have private health cover but the online service was separate to this.

[scotlandtim]

GP here/

Quite Simply - no

The Gp takes responsibility for prescribing the meds, even though lloyds direct send them out and dispense etc

Without a review of your BP (and depending which medication might require routine bloods to check kidney function etc) no GP worth their salt will continue to prescribe for you

Although you say its meds for life - its not. If and when things change- doses need to be titrated, extra meds added in, or current meds stopped for various reasons.

Your options are to realise you are no more special then the ladies you refer to and stop being so proud and book an appt like everyone else once youve registered at your local GP, or pay for a private GP service.

If you are out of catchment area then you need to re register as its part of the GP contract that we provide home visits when needed and district nurse input etc and if youre registered out of area we cant do that..

Hope that helps.

[dirky dirk]

My dad had a medical leaving his national service in 1953

Unitl probably 2010 he never saw a doctor as he wasnt ill
Getting him one and set up was a right faff and every appointment led to reception staff querying who he was

[BoRED S2upid]

Speak to the practice OP I know ours have very early appointments before Chantel and her brood will be out of bed. That might be a better option for you and I’m sure you have a BP monitor to keep on top of your readings that helps.

[edthefed]

Speak to the practice and see about registering for on line services

I am on repeat prescriptions and its easy to request on line via the surgery website and pick up at nominated Chemist a couple of days later

Also you can sort a lot of stuff with telephone appointments now

[sherman]

Go see the GP.
Its not even a morning out of your day that could save your life.
Do the inital assesment meeting. . Get all your repeats set up. Then you will be able to order and collect through lloyds. You may not need the GP ever again

[Slowboathome]

I believe it's down to the GPs' discretion whether they keep you on their list.

You could tell them you won't be requiring home visits if they let your remain with the practice.

[tommytaylor]

Slowboathome said:

I believe it's down to the GPs' discretion whether they keep you on their list.

You could tell them you won't be requiring home visits if they let your remain with the practice.

Last time the receptionist told me Id have to move I said I would rather get seriously ill than sit with "those sort" and that seemed to do the trick for a couple of years but they are back to telling me to move again.

[tommytaylor]

sherman said:

Go see the GP.
Its not even a morning out of your day that could save your life.
Do the inital assesment meeting. . Get all your repeats set up. Then you will be able to order and collect through lloyds. You may not need the GP ever again

That's what I do now though, all that happens is LLoyds direct email me and say its time to order your medicines, I click on the three drugs and a few days later they drop through my letterbox.

I assume LLoyds contact my GP, get the prescription authorised and then send it out. I do occasionally get texts from the GP saying come in and measure your BP or go for a blood test but I've never bothered since 2018 when I went onto BP tablets.

All I want is for a few tablets to drop through the door every couple of months, surely there are other ways.

[Pit Pony]

Sounds like the sort of GP who would be pleased to see you. If you are the only polite, intelligent pleasant client he has all day, you are going to get her/him/they giving you their best silence.

[Sheets Tabuer]

dirky dirk said:

every appointment led to reception staff querying who he was

Was he Ronnie Pic.........

[GT03ROB]

There are online chemists who will supply medicines without a prescription. In theory you need one, but they don’t check.

However you will pay full price not the prescription charge. The difference could be negligible or vast.

[sunbeam alpine]

tommytaylor said:

I do occasionally get texts from the GP saying come in and measure your BP or go for a blood test but I've never bothered since 2018 when I went onto BP tablets...

Based on what a real GP posted earlier in the thread, I would imagine that this is the reason why your GP has dumped you - you haven't enabled them to check you over, which is clearly a requirement.

[Sheepshanks]

sunbeam alpine said:

tommytaylor said:

I do occasionally get texts from the GP saying come in and measure your BP or go for a blood test but I've never bothered since 2018 when I went onto BP tablets...

Based on what a real GP posted earlier in the thread, I would imagine that this is the reason why your GP has dumped you - you haven't enabled them to check you over, which is clearly a requirement.

Oura forces the issue by refusing to re-prescribe until you've made an appt - last time it happened to my wife they said they had no appts!

[sherman]

tommytaylor said:

sherman said:

Go see the GP.
Its not even a morning out of your day that could save your life.
Do the inital assesment meeting. . Get all your repeats set up. Then you will be able to order and collect through lloyds. You may not need the GP ever again

That's what I do now though, all that happens is LLoyds direct email me and say its time to order your medicines, I click on the three drugs and a few days later they drop through my letterbox.

I assume LLoyds contact my GP, get the prescription authorised and then send it out. I do occasionally get texts from the GP saying come in and measure your BP or go for a blood test but I've never bothered since 2018 when I went onto BP tablets.

All I want is for a few tablets to drop through the door every couple of months, surely there are other ways.

It has been noticed lloyds are sending the prescription to a different address to whats registered.
You havent had a check up in 5 years forvthe medication. Is it.still appropriate.
Just go to the new GP. Suck up your pride/class predudice for the morning and get on with your life. You may not even need the same tablets anymore for all you know just now. There nay be something new and better for you that you havent heard about and able to treat you better.

[xx99xx]

sherman said:

It has been noticed lloyds are sending the prescription to a different address to whats registered.
You havent had a check up in 5 years forvthe medication. Is it.still appropriate.
Just go to the new GP. Suck up your pride/class predudice for the morning and get on with your life. You may not even need the same tablets anymore for all you know just now. There nay be something new and better for you that you havent heard about and able to treat you better.

Well said.

And it's not even a whole morning. If you have an appointment (which you would have otherwise they wouldn't see you) then you'll be waiting for a short amount of time, given that a lot of appointments are done over the phone these days. Whenever I go to my GP surgery it's empty.

Repeats are usually done online so visits to the surgery will be minimal. Get a grip, wear PPE and headphones if the other customers scare you and prioritise your health!

[anonymoususer]

Perhaps the OP could see if someone was selling the same tablets.
On e bay maybe.

[Silvanus]

anonymoususer said:

Perhaps the OP could see if someone was selling the same tablets.
On e bay maybe.

If he goes on eBay again it's likely to worsen his blood pressure

[Paul Dishman]

anonymoususer said:

Perhaps the OP could see if someone was selling the same tablets.
On e bay maybe.

How would he know he'd got were the same tablets and not fakes? Or out of date? Or tampered with?

Honestly, that's just such a daft idea