I’m not convinced that the consequences of these have been fully thought through. I agree they speed up check-in (although our GP still has a substantial queue for making appointments, dropping off samples, collecting prescriptions etc). But given that people with contagious diseases tend to visit GPs is it really wise to encourage everyone to rub their master forefingers over the same surface ? I take some care to use the antiseptic gel when I make a surgery visit, most importantly as the last thing I do before I leave !
That’s where the NHS could save a shitload of dosh - by better control over repeat prescriptions done by the local chemist.
Mine were transferred and our local chemist sends me a text to let me know they’re ready to collect. Should be every 8 weeks but they always send out the reminder a week early. After two years, I now have a reserve of about three month’s worth.
Multiply that over the whole country - it must be costing a fortune.
How true. The two places I’m currently working I have introduced a managed repeat system to avoid exactly the issue that you’ve described. The savings include -
Reduced wastage of un-used/ out of date meds
Reduction in number of items prescribed
Reduction in dispensing costs
Also there’s a safety benefit too allied to this.
The savings I’ve driven on just this one pharma issue alone (there are many others), are worth about 6% of the local CCG prescribing budget. So nationally we spend £16bn a year on drugs, and of this about £9bn is associated with GP prescribing (and probably 80% of this is on repeat). So if you scale it up nationally there’s something in the region of potentially £540m that could be saved.
Lou had a review of her (non working) pain med’s at Lerwick Hospital (Pain Clinic Dep’t) yesterday. Appointment was for 13:30. No delays, straight in 13:30 on the dot, 20 minute consultancy, alternative med’s prescribed and out by 13:50.
There was an old lady, must have been 90, being examined near me. If grand old dames ever existed, she was one: entirely charming and polite, but direct to the point.
They were talking about cataract surgery for her, when she loudly butted in, “yes, I understand that, but it’s going to have to wait, they’re operating on my fanny next week”. And into the silence that followed, “there’s no point telling me much more, I won’t remember, I’m a bit worried about this fanny thing, you see?”
Later, as the porter wheeled her by, she was telling him how lovely and polite they were, and how understanding about her fanny.
A customer turned up yesterday with a pair of 211 push-pull monos that needed a check over. At one point I reached over them to plug something else into the mains. Unfortunately I didn’t reach high enough and I brushed one of the 211s with the underside of my arm. Here it is a couple of hours later with a pink impression of the top of the valve
. Dammit.
