comet555

I went to the chemists this week and got a two month supply. I have no reason to go there other than the one prescription and I had dragging the little ones along. So last time I went I asked for two months and the lady behind the counter asked me why. I just told her I hate having to come down here every month and it's annoying bringing the kids, so two months would save me a trip. She said ok, and explained that they ask because you're not supposed to load up on medical bills due to the safety net thing. Presumably it would be harder near the end of the tax year to do this.

I would love to get 6 months at a time if I could, don't think they'd let me know. I know I used to buy 3 months at a time in Canada with no questions at all.

I get kind of annoyed with the questions actually. I usually buy our favourite cough syrup two bottles at a time, which means I rarely need to go in for it. They asked me why I need two bottles so I explained my husband likes one on his side of the bed and so do I. We don't use it often but when we do it's in the middle of the night, so it's easier having it right there. It's just annoying to have to explain it to strangers in order to get two bottles at once! I know they're just doing their job though.

hairart

hi all,

can anyone tell me if i would be able to get insurance for my 13 year old daughter who has just been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.
we had booked the flights for september but this is going to be too soon so were going to change them for next year as we need to get her in remmission before i can think of anything else.
i'm curious about how much the meds are going to cost, shes on steroids at the moment probably for about 3 months, she also takes sulfasalazine and azathioprine, and at the moment an antacid.
we have permanent visa's, i dont know if that makes any difference.

Vash the Stampede

I guess that depends on your medication and dosage. My arthritis medication usually lasts more than a month, and my ulcerative colitis medication lasts for more than three.

I really missed the convenience of repeat prescriptions when I lived in the UK!

Can't help you with this, but just wanted to offer a word of sympathy and support. I've been on steroids a few times when my colitis is bad. Sulfasalazine is a good medication (I've been on it ever since I was diagnosed ten years ago) and available in Australia at a reasonable cost if you ask for the generic brand. I think the standard rate is ~$30 for a bottle of one hundred 500mg tablets. You'll get it for about a third of that price if you have a Healthcare concession card

hairart

hi and thanks, she really is going through a tough time at the moment bless her, she's / we're still in hospital at the moment, on IV steroids, she's had a blood transfusion already a couple of weeks ago, and due to have another today because she has lost so much blood with it. The blood tests show that she has gone fron an inflammation level of 76 to 8, so the steroids are doing their job thankfully, just a little bit more to go.

Pollyana

Don't see why? In my experience most UK GPs do repeat prescriptions.

ABCDiamond

Maybe they don't do them for Australians

Vash the Stampede

Well... not really. The UK version of a repeat prescription is a little piece of paper telling you what your prescription is. Unfortunately this document cannot be used to purchase your medication, so it is not really a prescription at all. Instead you have to take it to a medical centre and get it exchanged for a real prescription, which you can then take to the chemist. In my experience this process took a minimum of 24 hours (two days was common). After exchanging your "repeat prescription" for a real prescription, you then have to make another appointment to get a new prescription all over again.

Australian repeat prescriptions are exactly what it says on the tin: repeat prescriptions. My prescriptions come with five repeats, which means I can use five prescriptions before I have to visit the GP for a new repeat. I could not do this in the UK, because the NHS does not offer the same service.

Pollyana

Agan, not my experience,personally. I used to be issued with actual prescriptions, several at a time, that I could take to the chemist when I needed the medication. In addition I could get further repeats by ringing the surgery and then just dropping in at my convenience to collect them once signed - I used to actually see the doctor once a year or so, and visit the surgery to pick up half a dozen repeats every 3-4 months.

Far less experience here as my local doctor has refused to issue more than one prescription at a time, insists n seeing me though its a minor condition, and won't bulk bill- so at $35 a go plus script charge I decided to do without.

Everyone's experience is different though I guess.

ABCDiamond

I see my doctor once a year for my prescription, which gives me 12 months supply. It's actually only 1 + 5 repeats , but I only take half the dose, so it lasts 12 instead of 6 months.

My local chemist, when I recently went in with an expired repeat prescription, suggested I ring the doctor, and get them to fax a new one over to them while I waited at the chemist.

Sherlock Holmes

We pay the gap to see the doctor here but not 11% National Insurance on income.

ABCDiamond

We have enough Bulk Billing doctors here to suit me nicely