Uk prescription number of ampoules

[LadyBothwell]

I moved county and new doctors gp surgery said I need to pick up b12 prescription from chemist for them to inject. My previous doctor had a supply in their surgery and just gave it no cost for 16 years (for which I’m grateful). I don’t have a problem with paying for a prescription now but just picked it up and only got one ampoule. Is that what others get for £9.15?

[Nackapan]

I had this problem. I asked and fought for a prescription to self inject.

Mainly to free up nurses time ,reduce visits to the surgery and to give my arms a break.

At the surgery they inject b12 with their supplies

On collection of first prescription I got 5 ampoules . I paid £9.15

As buy it as well realised an extra expenses to me as were 'free' when going to the sugery.

So wrote to Gp explaining thus .

I also but my own needles ,syringes, sharps box.

The Gp wrote another prescription for 3 boxes per prescription. 15 ampoules.

The only thing you have to watch is dates.

The NHS buy in b12 with very short expiry dates.

Its counter productive at times as recently I had ti return some I'd my mums as out if date by the time injection due by district nurses.

The chemist said its happening all the time .

So if you can get more pwe prescription look at dates.

I get ious if theve nothing in stock with a long enough date.

Nothing seems easy.

But I thought although fought for and wanted it also does save nurses time .

Why should I be overly out of pocket.

Long winded answer but I hope helpful.

I realises eveyewhere is different.

Some you have to collect pay prescription then take with you to the surgery. !!

If you dont ask you dont get .

[Gambit62 Administrator]

for some reason surgeries do vary in practice - for most the surgery provides the injection - for others they insist on going down the prescription route and making patients pay - and yes, it can mean that you get a full prescription charge for just one ampoule.It is rather inequitable as you are actually paying 100x the cost of the ampoule if you sourced it from a German pharmacy. The BNF quotes some ridiculous amount (though I think it is less than the prescription charge) for a B12 injection which does make you wonder about the efficiency of some of the purchasing processes.

You could try writing to the practice administrator pointing out the disparity between the situation at your previous GP (and most other GP practices) and asking why you are effectively being charged for something that is essential and is generally supplied free as a result.

[Buy1get1free in reply to Gambit62]

Please could you confirm the name of the German pharmacy which supplies 100 ampoules for £9.15? I currently pay quite a bit more than that and would be grateful to find a cheaper supplier. Thank you.

[SallyRees in reply to Buy1get1free]

apohealth.de

pharmasana.co.uk

Also the German Amazon

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Buy1get1free]

Thanks - had a senior moment on the maths - and was out by factor of 10 - trying to compare £10 with £1 - doh! - on line cost would normally be around 60-80p

[Buy1get1free in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you. No worries! That is about the same as I pay with Bodfeld Pharmacy. Under a pound a shot is still a lot cheaper than the bus ride to get an injection at the surgery!

[helvella]

Just to point out that the prescription charge applies only in England.

It might be interesting to know if practice in this regard differs in the three other countries?

[Curlygal in reply to helvella]

I'm in Scotland and only prescribed one ampoule. But it's ok because free prescriptions 🙂

[SallyRees]

Because I take regular medication for my epilepsy I qualify for free prescriptions, no matter what meds I’m prescribed. I hold an exemption certificate.

I obviously don’t know everyone’s, own personal circumstances but seeing if you qualify might be worth a try.

nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescri...

[Buy1get1free in reply to SallyRees]

For those people not exempt and who require regular prescriptions it may be worth buying a 3 month pre-payment certificate.

[LizWilsonpa]

Hi. As mentioned the NHS supplies often have short dates (but still 9 months or so on the B12 I've received). Therefore I can understand why surgeries can be reluctant to prescribe too many as there's a risk of wastage.

I have monthly injections prescribed and buy my own to top up (GP not aware). The surgery were happy to increase from 1 to 5 ampoules on my prescription last time when I explained I would be able to use it in time.

Although it's cheaper to buy off-prescription I keep my prescription going as I don't want the GP to think I don't need it.

Good luck.

[LadyBothwell in reply to LizWilsonpa]

Thanks. Mine had Short expiry (May). I also buy and self inject between GP injections and want to stay on GP records as needing it in the hope of a longer term understanding of the condition in the medical profession . I will ask next time why only 1 ampoule, It’s not the cost so much (although it doesn’t reflect the reality)but the inefficiency of repeating the prescription and the gp and pharmacy,s time and mine!