Medical Script renewal

Ruffian said:
The OP has not told us how long it has been since he attended for a direct consultation.

Is 3 months renewal a policy for everyone in all situations in all situations or is it for more circumscribed situations?
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Back story is that up to July 23 I wasn't on any meds. Had a heart attack then and was put on 8 tablets per day post op for stents. Met cardiologist in Sept 23 and he gave me a script for 6 months which GP then renewed for 6 months in Feb 24 (no physical visit) . Annual meeting with cardiologist in Sept 24 (bloods, echo etc done in hospital pre consultant visit so no need for GP visit) and got a revised script (now on 6 tablets) for 6 months. GP renewed this script recently (again no physical visit) but only for 3 months. It was when my wife's script was renewed yesterday that her pharmacist advised her that it was only for 3 months that I got confirmation that so was mine. We rang the surgery and were told that this was the new surgery policy going forward for all patients.

I will certainly see if our pharmacist will be prepared to extend the scripts beyond the 3 months when the current ones are due to expire, but given that I was told by them that I needed a new script from the GP for the current one I doubt very much if they will be willing to accommodate this.
 
Sorry to hear about your health challenges.

As you don't seem to have attended the GP in person since some time before July 2023 it is not altogether surprising that they would not be renewing your script now for longer than 3 months. But unless your wife is in some sort of similar scenario then it is surprising that it applies to her too. I have never heard of this as a general policy.
 
It would be interested know whether the Medical Council (a) is aware and (b) has approved of this new 3 month scrip policy
which, on the face of it, appears to be simply a bit of profiteering, although I'm sure that the practice will argue that in some mysterious way it's providing a better service to the patient!
 

Even if you found a pharmacist who was willing to extend some scripts, I don’t think he / she could consider yours as it is only a 3 month script.

Important Information​

‘’Only 6 month prescriptions written after 1 March 2024 are eligible for extension by a pharmacist. Prescriptions written after 1 March 2024 for other periods cannot be extended by a pharmacist.’’​

https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/87eb1-pharmacy-services/#:~:text=From%201%20March%202024%2C%20prescribers,they%20are%20for%206%20months​

 
I very much doubt that the practice is issuing scripts for only three months to maximise profits.

It seems reasonable to have a review for newish medicines every three months.
 
Generally speaking, a GP will issue a prescription for as long as is safe or appropriate. This is usually until a review needs to take place (check bloods/BP etc). If your prescription has expired, it generally means you need to be reviewed.
Just because a prescription CAN be issued for 12 months, it does not mean it SHOULD be issued for 12 months.
I would find it incredibly hard to believe that any surgery has a policy to issue prescriptions for 3 months to generate income. GPs are far too busy to engage in this. Most are turning away 20-30 patients per day.
I think far more likely is that when a prescription is requested, the GP checks the file and makes a clinical decision how long it is safe or appropriate to issue a prescription (ie to tide a patient over until a review or bloods can take place or some other period of time) This is work for which the GP is entitled to charge a fee.
Separately, it is not hugely relevant to a GP if they have seen a cardiologist or specialist previously who issued a prescription. Legally speaking, when a GP signs a prescription, they are then 100% responsible for that and need to satisfy themselves that all of the appropriate checks have taken place. A patient could also separately seek a repeat prescription for their cardiology medications directly from their cardiologist if they have an issue with the GP.
 
Hillwalker123 said:
A patient could also separately seek a repeat prescription for their cardiology medications directly from their cardiologist if they have an issue with the GP
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I'll certainly be requesting a 12 month script from my cardiologist when I next see him. Whether I'll get one remains to be seen!
 
Brendan Burgess said:
I very much doubt that the practice is issuing scripts for only three months to maximise profits. It seems reasonable to have a review for newish medicines every three months.
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Indeed it does, however in this case the OP has explained that "We rang the surgery and were told that this was the new surgery policy going forward for all patients." so it appears that it's a catchall, rather than a policy that's restricted only to newish medicines.

Hence my comment on the possible motive behind this new policy!
 
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LL???? said:
I'll certainly be requesting a 12 month script from my cardiologist when I next see him. Whether I'll get one remains to be seen!
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I attend a consultant rheumatologist privately and to get the meds he prescribes on a repeat prescription costs €80; easier and cheaper to get the GP to issue the script on repeat
 
GAAmam said:
I attend a consultant rheumatologist privately and to get the meds he prescribes on a repeat prescription costs €80; easier and cheaper to get the GP to issue the script on repeat
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My annual visit to the cardiologist currently costs €200 and will include a renewal or updating of my script (currently for 6 months). I'll still end up paying €200 for this visit irrespective of the duration of script given and if I can get him to give me a 12 month one I wont incur the additional GP €60 (€30 x 2 unless the cost increases!) script renewal costs.
 
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