Hi I'm Bryher, ask me questions about Getting Older

Bryher

Hello, I’m Bryher.

I work at The Silver Line which is the only free and confidential helpline for older people which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It doesn’t matter what time of day or night you would like to call us, we will be on hand.

Since we opened our helpline we have answered more than 1.6 million calls. If you need help, we can point you to the right organisation and if you are on your own and would love to have a chat, then we would be delighted to hear from you.

loulou1949

My 38 yr old daughter has cp and after being told by a physiotherapist at our local hospital in Suffolk that she was walking on her spasms four years ago - she has not walked since as her care staff cannot go against physio advice.  Her father and I would love to find someone who really
knows about cp in older people to advise her, but don’t know who to turn to. Is there anywhere in England we can take her to get specialist help?  Thanks so much, Linda

Bryher

@loulou1949 I think there may be better advisors than me for your query.  The Silver Line was set up to help people 60+ and I don't think that 38 is generally thought of as an older person.  I will see if I can find someone more appropriate to help you.

jose2

Hello @Bryher, I don't know if I'm asking wrong question to you on this forum ,but here goes anyway!,it may seem trivial,but not to me .I'm 69 years old and have numerous disabilities, one been Discoid Lupus/Sjrogrens which both, for years have caused really dry eyes,and this month went for repeat prescriptions and found that instead of Hylo Forte been prescribed ,was replaced by Blink eye drops.Hylo I was prescribed 18 months ago by an Opthalmologist and then told by Nurse at local hospital who saw me with continuing eye problems for 7/8 months to use Hylo as many times per day as per necessary,also my optician has told me continue these drops, as since using it it has calmed and helped so much with my dry eyes ,so I rang and questioned my surgery about this change in medication for my eyes ,told me to get appointment with a doctor,(which I did) but while talking to receptionist told her of my frustration of having my scripts changed without consultation first with me and that this has been going on for x 2 years now,she informed me that an auditor comes into surgery to get prescription prices down,for NHS or whoever?,by this time I was furious ! I went to see Dr today who was very sympathetic ,and that he'd had objections of this been done to patients treatment and care,but told me his hands were tied on the matter,I gave him a typed letter with all my costs of my prescription charges c/o NHS  which came £ 777.00 per year and that if I knocked off my Osteoporosis injections x2 per year @ £ 366.00 per year and my inhaler for COPD which would save another £ 384.00 per year ,that would be a saving of £750.00 per year for NHS coffers,so with all other medications and still having Hylo I will be costing the NHS £181.56 per year .the Dr who I saw today told me to see the Practice Manager about my prescription changes,as he maybe the person to see c/o all this.
I don't want preferential treatment, but I am so mad and frustrated about care or lack of it for years now,so who if you could help me ,who the heck do I complain to about all this slashing patients treatment costs.
Last week couldn't believe my ears when heard Theresa May say, since June 2018 conservatives had put £ 300 and 94 million pounds PER WEEK into NHS,for whom may I ask 
All thanks
@jose2  

Bryher

Dear @jose2
I am very sorry to hear about your struggles with your prescriptions with your GP. A similar thing happened to me a few years ago but I managed to persuade my doctor to return me to the original product.

I think The Patient's Association may be worth contacting on this matter. I do know that certain branded products are vastly more expensive than a generic version and that in order to cope with the ever increasing numbers of us who need to use the NHS they do need to make savings. 

I'll ask my colleagues if they have any other ideas and let you know if they do.

Best wishes
Bryher

jose2

@Bryher, thank you for your quick reply, the Gp I saw yesterday said he would give me a script for my Hylo ,but said they will change it back on repeat anyway,so told me  best person to speak to about this would be practice manager,
I have been reading some information on GMC about prescribing ,and that it says on 'shared care' of patients (this in lay-mans terms)that the person who is suitably qualified and experienced in the patients care to prescribe a particular drug or whatever ,has sufficient knowledge of the patient and their medical needs .As I was told   by Gp yesterday the 'Auditor at this practice does not' know  anything about my medical needs and told by GP that they think in hard cash savings, not as that  of me as  'a human being'.
Thanks for your help ,anything else you and the team at Scope know,or where to stop this happening again, will be much appreciated ,(think Dr yesterday was giving me a bit fat hint about taking it further) 
@jose2

Bryher

Dear @jose2
Good luck with your quest.
Best wishes
Bryher

jose2

@Bryher,will let you know what happens ,than you again.