Anger over need to see GP to get long-term repeat prescriptions

A Queensland man forced to see a doctor every three months for repeat scripts for medicines he’s taken for decades wants the practice investigated.

A Queensland man has highlighted the issue of the need for doctor’s appointments every three months for repeat scripts.

A Queensland patient forced to see a doctor at full cost every three months for repeat prescriptions for medicines that he has been taking for decades feels ripped off and is calling for a probe into the practice.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Michael Wright has told The Courier-Mail that GPs are trained to have the professional autonomy and clinical independence to prescribe safely and in line with good medical practice.

North Brisbane man David Michaels reveals that he finds it increasingly difficult to get repeat prescriptions from GP clinics.

“I’m on a number of medications for ongoing medical conditions – asthma, anaphylaxis – and the conditions are well managed,” he said.

“Some clinics won’t issue a repeat prescription over the phone or via Hot Doc unless I’ve seen a GP within the past three months, others won’t even issue a repeat at all unless I go into the clinic and see a GP. They don’t bulk bill for such a visit.”

A warning on Hot Doc about appointments for prescriptions.

Mr Michaels, who is in his 50s, said he has had the same conditions for many years and his conditions have been stable throughout that time.

He believes there is no risk to prescribing epi pens or inhalers without a face-to-face visit with the doctor.

“If my health condition changes then obviously I’d go see my GP but if everything is well managed by my medication why should I have to pay for an appointment every three months?” he said.

“It is just handing out extra money for the doctor appointment which can be difficult to secure and then I have to pay for the prescription.”

The RACGP chief insists that doctors can make the clinical decisions to see the patients in the clinic as part of good medical practice.

“The decisions should always be made with the patient’s safety and welfare as the top priority, in line with a GP’s legal and professional responsibilities,” Dr Wright said.

All health practitioners involved in prescribing and dispensing have individual legal and professional responsibilities when a medicine is prescribed and subsequently dispensed.

Even where a medication is among those eligible for 60-day prescriptions, specialist GPs have clinical discretion over what quantity of medicines is prescribed for their patients.

The extra costs every three months for patients comes as a national report from Cleanbill revealed that some Queenslanders are paying the highest out of pocket increases for an appointment with the doctor than anywhere else in the country.