Prescriptions while away
I usually take enough medicines away with me to last the trip. This trip I was cutting it a bit fine, not usually a problem because I can order my repeats on line and collect them as soon as I am home. However my return has been delayed and I will run out before I return so I went to a nearby Boots to see if I could have an emergency supply. You can for a fee of £8.50 per item which I was prepared to pay for the most urgent item of the 5 I need. I happened to mention to the pharmacist that I normally order my repeats electronically on line. Oh she said in that case we are on the electronic system and we should be able to dispense your requirements free. She then phoned my local chemist, not Boots, and got my prescription sent to her pharmacy and I collected my monthly supply of 5 items free of charge. Some ofyou may know this already but it appears if you use the on line system for repeats you can collect your reqirements anywher,e in England and perhaps the UK.
peedee
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Thanks for this info peedee. I had no idea you could do this. Very useful to know.
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All we need now is for this facility to be extended to EU countries
. The 2 month rule (3 if you are lucky) is a real pain when on an extended tour. (Fortunately we found that we could buy repeat prescription items in Spain at the pharmacist with no hassle. Cost was very reasonable, but still hurts when normally free at home!)0 -
Peedee
Interesting experience. The only time we have had a problem in the UK I am afraid to say the Boots in Brighton was most unhelpful and suggested we needed to go to the local drop in Medical Centre for the doctor to give us a prescription. This was a couple of years ago so things could have changed.
What we do now if going away on a longish trip is to fill our pill boxes (we have purchased extra ones to last the length of our longest holidays) a few weeks before departure so we have time to get extra supplies. We are lucky that our surgery allows us to order 3 months at a time and they can be reordered after two months if that make sense. The longest we tend to go away now is two months so not really an issue.
Margaret needed some more medication in Italy once and the pharmacy were happy to accept the prescription script as proof of needing the medication. We had to pay but it was quite cheap.
David
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NHS Prescritions are only verified and allowed in the UK. 2 months is the maximum permitted except in special circumstances when 3 may be allowed.
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Good interesting and useful post
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It was through a forum some years ago that I discovered 2 months supply could be given and now that's what I ask for if we're going to be away for several weeks. Useful stuff.
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If in Europe for more than two months you may need to visit a doctor for a repeat prescription, pay him/her, pay costs at the pharmacy, then reclaim what you can via EHIC or medical insurance - although when I had an overnight stay in a private hospital in India the bill for that and the drugs and drips was only £37, and the medical insurance had an excess of £50 before it kicked in.
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Not quite sure what special circumstances apply to us as we have always had a three month supply and Margaret has often had more on top if the reason was explained.
The attitude and rules in Europe seems very different to that of the UK. In Italy I think you can buy antibiotics over the counter!!! I suspect it will also depend on what sort of drugs are required.
David
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We get 2 months at a time, we can request additional supplies if they will run out while away, but only enough for 3 months, which is usually plenty.
Our doc advised, if going for longer, stockpile items well ahead by ordering a little early a few times. We have managed 4 months away by doing so.
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There seems to be a little confusion added to this thread about the amount of prescription medicines you can request. I have been doing this for 5 years now and at the outset I made enquires with the NHS Primary Healthcare Trust in England where I live as to what were the rules, not the pharmacy or surgery as they can often give the wrong advice.
Anyone who is eligible for prescriptions in England, at least, whether they be paid for or free as part of the NHS are ENTITLED to have up to 3 months supply, but not more, of their medication if they are going on holiday. It did not stipulate where that holiday must be taken so I believe it is true for in the UK as well as abroad.
We get ours well in advance of our departure in the UK so there are no last minute hiccups with availability and our pharmacy is part of the surgery, so I don't get a paper prescription. I never had a problem and I think it is quite common. I take the prescription counterfoils with us in case we are asked to show them by Customs or Police etc.
Soon mine will be free but I doubt that will make the staff react any differently towards my request as these are the rules that they must abide by.
Of course it could have changed in the past 5 years but I collected mine again last week
Regards, Roy
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Generally not a problem for us, as I have built up a bit of a reserve by ordering early as K suggests. Although that is not so easy now if doing it online, as the tick boxes don't appear until a week before the medicines are due. However, if my medication was changed, I assume I could do what I did when I first retired and we went away for an extended period. I had a word with the doctor and he said just put a second request in very early with a note explaining why you want it, and I will approve the request.
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The main problem I have is that my 5 different pills started being prescribed on different dates, so there is quite a difference in when each batch get used up.
Right now I have one lot that will run out in 17 days while another lot will last 52 days.
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Another useful thing to know if in the UK and you need an emergency prescription e.g antibiotics you can call 111 and they can electronically issue a prescription to a pharmacy near to your location - helps if no local doctor.
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You need to talk to the Practice Manager so all medications are on the same start date. Our Practice uses Systemonline and it has been co-ordinated so that all medications have the same start date despite being prescribed at different times. It is all very simple.
David
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Irrespective of what technology your GP practice is using I imagine that if you speak to the practice manager and explain the reasons he/she will be able to arrange for your prescriptions to be issued to a common date by under issuing some. Ultimately this reduces work for them. Certainly my own practice were very helpful in this respect.
Incidentally I believe the guidelines for prescribing "holiday/travel prescriptions were issues in the 1970s long before long trips or winter snowbirds were common.
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Thanks for the info and advice Peedee.
On two occasions when the OH had forgotten one of her many medications we have managed to get a small amount from a chemist near the site but only after phoning our doctor or chemist first.
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