A website has just been set up allowing women to order to pill over the internet rather than having to go to their GP.
Ok, so at the moment, I wouldn't use this because they charge for the pill, unlike the NHS where it is free.
However, I support the idea 100%. I find the currant situation ludicrous. You can be on the pill for over 5 years with no negative side effects at all, but every time you need a new prescription you have to make an appointment and then get yourself to your GP. Repeat prescriptions aren't available. GPs only usually work 9-5, Monday to Friday which is fine if you don't work, but unfortunately this isn't the 1950s and most women do now work.
Its a bit like family planning clinics only being open 10-1, Mon, Wed and Fri. Not so good if it's emergency contraception that you need!
The pill should continue to be free from the NHS, but as all they do at the GP is weigh you, test your blood pressure and ask if nyone in your family has died of a heart attack, frankly, the pharmacist in Tescos is equally qualified to do that and Tescos is far more convenient for 90% of the population.
I don't understand the opposition that the GMC (etc) are making to this. This article all sums it up quite well.
Ok, so at the moment, I wouldn't use this because they charge for the pill, unlike the NHS where it is free.
However, I support the idea 100%. I find the currant situation ludicrous. You can be on the pill for over 5 years with no negative side effects at all, but every time you need a new prescription you have to make an appointment and then get yourself to your GP. Repeat prescriptions aren't available. GPs only usually work 9-5, Monday to Friday which is fine if you don't work, but unfortunately this isn't the 1950s and most women do now work.
Its a bit like family planning clinics only being open 10-1, Mon, Wed and Fri. Not so good if it's emergency contraception that you need!
The pill should continue to be free from the NHS, but as all they do at the GP is weigh you, test your blood pressure and ask if nyone in your family has died of a heart attack, frankly, the pharmacist in Tescos is equally qualified to do that and Tescos is far more convenient for 90% of the population.
I don't understand the opposition that the GMC (etc) are making to this. This article all sums it up quite well.
7 comments:
Agreed, when I first heard the story I assumed it was the morning after pill, which might have justified the outrage. But when I discovered it was just the regular pill I was surprised anyone considered it a worthy news story in the first place and indeed, that Tescos weren't already selling it.
I think you can get both...
Well there you go. The horse has already bolted.
Although it's just occurred to me that there are some positive externalities from having to go to the doctor for the pill, in that it might cause you to raise other medical issues that might have been on your mind that you couldn't be bothered to make a seperate appointment for, like: I've got a mole, is it cancerous? But then, that would be a much better argument if it were men going to the doctor, who are notoriously reticent to do so, rather than women, who on the whole are a lot more willing. Anyway.
Maybe this will throw some light on it.
My mum has blood pressure tablets. The doctor changed her from the pills she was having to a new one because the originals cost the practise £25 a pack, and the new ones were £1.20.
So if you get a prescription from the NHS for the pill (I know you are talking the contraceptive not blood pressure), if the actual cost is less than the prescription charge, then its quids in for the government.
And, if Tescos were to seel it, they would undercut the prescription charge and ruin the monopoly and the NHS would end up providing a crap service. Oh, has that happened already!
Whilst that works for many medicines, all contraceptives are free to everyone on the NHS, even if that person was a millionaire.
ps: sorry no biscuits at the moment, have been both ill, west wing obsessed and blogwatching....
Also, Civ City Rome hasn't helped wither. Not the greatest game, but addictive for 72 hours or so....
Well, I thought it was a good theory anyway!
No worries on the biscuits. If your ill I don't want them infected with something!
Swizz
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