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"General apathy and lack of concern for patient..."

About: Park House Medical Centre

I feel that the GP at the surgery is more concerned with costs than with patient welfare. I am a hayfever sufferer and went to the GP last week to get a repeat prescription for the anti-histamine medication I usually take. Over the counter medication such as cetirizine hydrochloride do not work for me. Recently I have discovered Acrivastine which seemed to work okay when the pollen count is low-medium. But last week, the pollen count was very high and I found I needed to take four doses of this a day (above recommended). I sneezed and coughed so much that my colleagues were convinced I had a cold (symptoms lessened on Saturday after the rain - so not a cold). On Wednesday I went to the GP to request a prescription for fexofenadine (which I have had in the past) and an inhaler (since I suffer from seasonal asthma). I went to pick up my prescription today, only to be informed that they are no longer able to offer fexofenadine on prescription. After talking to the pharmacist, I discovered that there are a lot of patients on fexofenadine. I find myself asking why a patient who hardly ever goes to the GP is not allowed the prescription when others are. At least I was allowed to have the inhaler. I suppose there is no over the counter alternative. I am not normally one to complain. In fact, I went through all this with the GP last year and although I was upset I did not complain. Last year the GP spoke to me on the phone to get me to justify why I needed the prescription (I then was given the prescription), so I am concerned that the GP has either not made a record of the conversation or not read my notes before making this decision. Should be easy enough to find the conversation, I hardly ever see the GP, it is not like there are pages and pages of notes. The least the GP could have done is speak to me on the phone before me coming to pick up the prescription, rather than leaving the receptionist to deliver the message. I now have to waste my time sorting this out. I am not one of those people who runs to see the GP for every minor ailment.

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Responses

Response from Park House Medical Centre 5 years ago
Park House Medical Centre
Submitted on 10/07/2019 at 11:47
Published on nhs.uk at 14:07


Thank you for your comment.

We are sorry that you feel you have not had the best experience.

As you are aware the NHS is crippled under the ever growing pressures, increasing populations and lack of funding.

As a GP Practice we are constrained by certain processes with regard to prescribing medications which are classed as available "over the counter - OTC" and hayfever medication is one item which falls into these constraints.

These constraints are imposed on us, it is not the practice saying to patients that "you can't have that".

However, if you have tried all avenues with the OTC medications and are still not getting relief you should contact the practice and ask for a telephone appointment with the GP.

The GP will discuss your symptoms and look at your record (should see what medications you were prescribed last year) and then if your symptoms require it, a prescription may be issued.

Please contact the surgery to request a telephone appointment.

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