NHS prescriptions

[jamoor]

Got prescribed some amoxicillin today, 21 capsules.

Quick google revealed these cost around 10p each or £1 for a pack of 21 on a private prescription.

Why am I being charge £7 for these and not £1 odd????

Are they making a profit on this script??

[Shaw Tarse]

Always ask the pharmacist to suggest a cheaper option.

[DocJock]

The profit on your Amoxycillin goes towards subsidising the more ridiculously expensive prescriptions (and the (90^ which are issued free of charge)

[cazzer]

Or ask yer doc for a private prescription.

[eldar]

jamoor said:

Got prescribed some amoxicillin today, 21 capsules.

Quick google revealed these cost around 10p each or £1 for a pack of 21 on a private prescription.

Why am I being charge £7 for these and not £1 odd????

Are they making a profit on this script??

Yes.

It covers the people whose £7 script costs the NHS £2,500.

[ClassicMercs]

Shaw Tarse said:

Always ask the pharmacist to suggest a cheaper option.

Some items on prescription are available over the counter without prescription - and vice versa.

I have had some antacid over the counter cheaper than on prescription, but got the doc to give me a prescription for some shampoo which is MUCH dearer over the counter.

[The_Doc]

cazzer said:

Or ask yer doc for a private prescription.

and he'll charge you a £15 fee for the piece of paper

[Paul Dishman]

Works both ways. I had a real job convincing a 65 year old patient with a private prescription that he had to pay for his medicines just as he'd had to pay his non NHS dentist for his filling.

[littlegreenfairy]

So how do these private prescriptions work? And why would you want one?

When you get stuff from the doc, do you pay per item or per prescription (you can tell I never get prescriptions!) I was thinking about this the other day and was going to ask.

[Paul Dishman]

littlegreenfairy said:

So how do these private prescriptions work? And why would you want one?

When you get stuff from the doc, do you pay per item or per prescription (you can tell I never get prescriptions!) I was thinking about this the other day and was going to ask.

You pay per item. On an NHS prescription its £7.20 per item, on a private prescription its the item cost + pharmacists mark-up/fee.

Doctors usually issue private prescriptions for medicines that aren't available on the NHS such as those for malaria prophylaxsis. A non NHS dentist will issue a private prescription as he can't isssue a NHS one.

[littlegreenfairy]

Paul Dishman said:

littlegreenfairy said:

So how do these private prescriptions work? And why would you want one?

When you get stuff from the doc, do you pay per item or per prescription (you can tell I never get prescriptions!) I was thinking about this the other day and was going to ask.

You pay per item. On an NHS prescription its £7.20 per item, on a private prescription its the item cost + pharmacists mark-up/fee.

Doctors usually issue private prescriptions for medicines that aren't available on the NHS such as those for malaria prophylaxsis. A non NHS dentist will issue a private prescription as he can't isssue a NHS one.

Thank you So if I needed 3 lots of antibiotics at 10p a pack, it'd be cheaper to pay the £15 issuing charge and the 10p?

[Paul Dishman]

Three NHS prescriptions would cost you £21.60.

I doubt that your NHS GP would write you a private prescription and I don't know what he'd charge you if he did

I put a minimum charge of £6 per private prescription so it wouldn't save you much

Edited by Paul Dishman on Wednesday 4th August 19:05

[sawman]

littlegreenfairy said:

Paul Dishman said:

littlegreenfairy said:

So how do these private prescriptions work? And why would you want one?

When you get stuff from the doc, do you pay per item or per prescription (you can tell I never get prescriptions!) I was thinking about this the other day and was going to ask.

You pay per item. On an NHS prescription its £7.20 per item, on a private prescription its the item cost + pharmacists mark-up/fee.

Doctors usually issue private prescriptions for medicines that aren't available on the NHS such as those for malaria prophylaxsis. A non NHS dentist will issue a private prescription as he can't isssue a NHS one.

Thank you So if I needed 3 lots of antibiotics at 10p a pack, it'd be cheaper to pay the £15 issuing charge and the 10p?

if the meds were the same issues at the same time that would be one prescription (7.20) so no it would be cheaper to get the nhs version, if they were different drugs issued at the same time they would be 3 items so the private one may be cheaper, although some antibiotics eg cipro' are quite dear.

I have had the misfortune to need medicines in canada, where there is no prescription charge - you just pay for medicine and it gets very expensive very quickly

[littlegreenfairy]

Paul Dishman said:

Three NHS prescriptions would cost you £21.60.

I doubt that your NHS GP would write you a private prescription and I don't know what he'd charge you if he did

I put a minimum charge of £6 per private prescription so it wouldn't save you much

Edited by Paul Dishman on Wednesday 4th August 19:05

Well that's made my mind up not to worry about things unless it really concerns me. I'll just pay the £7.20 out and not let it concern me as that just hurt my head

Not that I need one anyhow. That'll teach me to keep my mind from wondering :P

[Paul Dishman]

sawman said:

I have had the misfortune to need medicines in canada, where there is no prescription charge - you just pay for medicine and it gets very expensive very quickly

Medicine prices in this country are artifical as the NHS manipulates the market. Generic (unbranded) medicines are sold at almost uneconomically low prices. Its barely worthwhile for the manufacturers to supply some drugs which is why we get shortages and long term out of stocks.