Prescribing ban

[Clutter]

Extracts from GP Online Article re West Lancs CCG ban on prescribing OTC and low clinical value drugs etc. from September 4, 2017.

GPC clinical and prescribing policy lead Dr Andrew Green has condemned the move, warning that CCGs do not have the power to ban GPs prescribing medicines that patients need.

If faced with upsetting their CCG or complying with GMS requirements GPs ‘should upset their CCG every time’, he told GPonline.

The GPC has warned that GPs would be in breach of the GMS contract and could get into legal trouble by following the orders and refusing to prescribe patients treatments they have told them they need.

gponline.com/gpc-warning-ig...

[Hidden]

Clutter interesting and thanks for bringing this to our attention. Does this mean that CCGs' wings need to be clipped as patients needs appear to be no longer paramount and business decisions are the deciding factor?

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

Cinnamon-girl,

General Pharmaceutical Council certainly seem to think that not prescribing treatments patients have been told they need is a breach of the General Medical Services Contract.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter do you know how much clout the GPC has? Very interested to know how this eventually pans out!

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

C-G,

No idea whether they have clout but I think patient groups might be interested in the potential breach of GMS contract if patients are told they need a treatment and are refused prescriptions for it.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Clutter let's hope the patient groups make enough noise!

[shaws]

I'm glad at least one doctor so far has stuck in his oar to complain about what they can and cannot prescribe as they are dealing with a patient not a conglomeration.

See how they 'frighten' GPs into submission by threatening legal action if they don't toe the line. I assume that's how the banned NDTs as well. Now T3.

[Clutter in reply to shaws]

Shaws,

This advice suggests that toeing the line and not prescribing may lead to legal action.

[shaws in reply to Clutter]

So it should.

They pursued Dr Peatfield when they wanted to stop NDT being prescribed and other doctors as far as I know.

[Shelley1954]

I agree totally, I mentioned this 3 months ago " Professional Negligence - if refusing to test T3?" same applies to prescribing in my mind. If a patient is not converting, what else can they prescribe...nothing but T3. I think the same applies where an endo recommends it but the GP refuses to prescribe following CCG 'guidance' of course if a legal case was raised the CCG could slither out of trouble by saying that it is only guidance!

[Babette]

I really can't believe the reply from Duncan Livingstone - or is he just trolling?

I know 'non-roidy' pensioners who ask for (and get) movelat / volterol, vitamins, sun cream, insoles, magnifying glasses ... One even complained that a local chemist stopped a scheme whereby she was able to get free cough medicine (apparently it's stronger than than OTC stuff!). I told her I felt sorry that she couldn't afford a couple of quid for a bottle and offered to buy her some. All of them can easily afford to buy their own.

[MrsRaven in reply to Babette]

I am on pension credit, which isn't the same as state pension. Years ago I was told by the gastro that I should have regular blood tests for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, (which I have to nag to get) and should be prescribed the vitamins I need, as I have absorption problems due to years of anti-inflammatories and undiagnosed coeliac. I haven't been able to get them prescribed for years and in fact ended up with a B12 deficiency- which I was still not prescribed for - and hyperparathyroid. I also need T3 and can't get it. So maybe older patients in your area are better treated than they are where I live

[Babette in reply to MrsRaven]

It certainly sounds like it! I know a number of them who get everything they ask for. One has a stockpile of movelat because she asks for it every month, and openly admits it. They're all at different practices so it's not just one generous GP either.