Prescription Medicine in Spain

[ceejayt]

Hi

Trying to get our GP to provide prescriptions to cover 8 week holiday practically impossible even if we can get to actually talk to them.

How easy is it to buy medicines over the counter in Spain and or France?

What do others do?

Thanks

 

[Dorset Diver]

Yes all very easy just bring your prescription.

It depends upon what you are taking. Don't expect the pharmacies to hold stocks of or be able to obtain all meds.

 

[peterc10]

Local Spanish pharmacies here happy to dispense (UK prescription) meds upon receipt of the copy prescription that we receive in the bag when collecting meds in the UK

I save my copy scripts for use in Spain - my atorvastatin doesn't need the script - my indapamide does (sometimes) !!

(UK doctor would previously prescribe 3 / 6 months at a time - when I asked recently I was advised that because I am over 65 they only prescribe on a monthly basis - perhaps they are hoping I die before needing next months meds ?? )

We are both 75 years old. Our GP has always prescribed 2 months worth. We now order via the NHS app and collect at our designated pharmacy.

For some reason the NHS app allows us to reorder 2 weeks before the 2 month period runs out. That enables us to build up stocks for when we are going away. But even before that if we were going to run out we used to ask the GP to prescribe early and they always did.

 

[Joethejoiner]

We are both 75 years old. Our GP has always prescribed 2 months worth. We now order via the NHS app and collect at our designated pharmacy.

For some reason the NHS app allows us to reorder 2 weeks before the 2 month period runs out. That enables us to build up stocks for when we are going away. But even before that if we were going to run out we used to ask the GP to prescribe early and they always did.

Why would any doctor deny their patients the drugs they need ?
The surgery I attend may not be perfect but certainly, from what I read here , is close

 

[Mel68]

Hi

Trying to get our GP to provide prescriptions to cover 8 week holiday practically impossible even if we can get to actually talk to them.

How easy is it to buy medicines over the counter in Spain and or France?

What do others do?

Thanks

My health centre has a dispensp

Hi

Trying to get our GP to provide prescriptions to cover 8 week holiday practically impossible even if we can get to actually talk to them.

How easy is it to buy medicines over the counter in Spain and or France?

What do others do?

Thanks

In the UK my health centre has a dispensary i just go to see them and they will order it there and then, for the day you want it at the chemist
I did the rounds, doctor and reception with no help, so if you have another practice with a distensary might be worth asking if they can order for you. Good luck.

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[gus-lopez]

When in Spain we register with the local community surgery, using our passport, GHIC, and Sip card issued from the last visit. We are never charged for a consultation nor for the issue of a prescription.

Doing that Jock you should still experience no problem when you are here

It depends upon what you are taking. Don't expect the pharmacies to hold stocks of or be able to obtain all meds.

Most will usually be able to obtain them by the evening if asked for before morning closure.

 

[Verteuil Man]

You need to build up stocks over time as GPs are not permitted to prescribe more than 2 months.. But keep your empty pill box as Spanish pharmacists will provide against this evidence

The 2 month rule maybe your practice manager. We both get 3 months worth at a time.

 

[Chris RJ]

Hi

Trying to get our GP to provide prescriptions to cover 8 week holiday practically impossible even if we can get to actually talk to them.

How easy is it to buy medicines over the counter in Spain and or France?

What do others do?

Thanks

My doctors give me mine even when when I went for 6 months. If they are prescribed medicine I doubt if yo could buy them

 

[Dancers]

Hi

Trying to get our GP to provide prescriptions to cover 8 week holiday practically impossible even if we can get to actually talk to them.

How easy is it to buy medicines over the counter in Spain and or France?

What do others do?

Thanks

Hi we have not found it a problem to get prescriptions in Spain and Canaries. I always have my ‘repeat’ paper to show them along with empty packs and explain that I am extending my holiday and I will run out. Have never been refused and mine are very reasonable too as we have to pay

 

[Loftyjeff]

Hi

Trying to get our GP to provide prescriptions to cover 8 week holiday practically impossible even if we can get to actually talk to them.

How easy is it to buy medicines over the counter in Spain and or France?

What do others do?

Thanks

Hi bought over the counter in Spain no problem

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[Linda farley]

I guess it is the postcode lottery of the health service - we are just outside York with a local surgery that is part of a group of around 5 surgeries.

I kid you not, almost every week we receive emails/Facebook notifications saying " please do n to call or try to make an appointment - we are currently not providing any appointments due to volume of work"

That is NOT a health service

On top of that, we have to deal with dismissive receptionists who think they can triage you and clearly attended the school of rudeness.

To top that off they also post in Facebook to tell us how well they are doing, how many appointments they have doe plus they send emails with health tips every week.

GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!

Our gp surgery will only make an appointment online. I go through on the phone and she wouldn’t book me an appointment, had to do it online, but I couldn’t get it to work so my husband ended up driving to the gps and then I had to fill a form in and they phoned me back!! Spain on the other hand I showed my repeat certificate and they filled it for £7!

 

[Parrot Face]

Don't get me wrong I think they do a good job in difficult situations but sometimes I feel we are becoming a vaccination focussed country. You can get a covid, shingles or flu vaccination sometimes the next day but try and get a prescription for your usual painkiller?

 

[Bolti]

Don't get me wrong I think they do a good job in difficult situations but sometimes I feel we are becoming a vaccination focussed country. You can get a covid, shingles or flu vaccination sometimes the next day but try and get a prescription for your usual painkiller?

probably due to the fact the chemist/doctors are paid extra for administering vaccines.

 

[Platelet]

One option is to get a friend to collect your repeat prescription and send them to you ,
My son does this for me and partner ,easy if you are able to plan forward to stay on a campsite, postage usually takes around 8 days from experience.

That is technically illegal as you’ve not notified your GP that you are out of the UK and requesting meds. Also depending on the meds it could be classed importing/exporting class A/B/C drugs as some are classed as controlled drugs.

 

[Platelet]

Just put a written request into your receptionist stating the dates you are away on holiday and as long as its under 3 months you should not have any problems

Some are controlled meds and by law the GP can only prescribe 1 months supply.

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[carolyn]

Some are controlled meds and by law the GP can only prescribe 1 months supply.

Broken Link RemovedYou’re wrong. If the person is stable it’s not a problem at all.

 

[peterc10]

Some are controlled meds and by law the GP can only prescribe 1 months supply.

Well in that case many of the doctors in our GP practice have been breaking the law for over 20 years! And the pharmacist as well I suspect. Who should I report them to?

 

[Jonny1953]

For some reason the NHS app allows us to reorder 2 weeks before the 2 month period runs out. That enables us to build up stocks for when we are going away. But even before that if we were going to run out we used to ask the GP to prescribe early and they always did.

I do exactly the same, been ordering the medicines every 6 weeks for a few years now and I always have at least 3 months supply, so no problem for a trip to the EU for the maximum time allowed

 

[Puddleduck]

We use Pharmacy2U and there is a box for “are you ordering before usual time”? Then answer “going on holiday”. I ordered mine early and answered Xmas shut down and no problems.

A service not available in Wales, NI or Scotland

 

[Speve]

Pleased for you but we are not so lucky.

We have just taken a script into a Farmacia and usually can have as much and whatever we need without problem and it’s not expensive either

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[Red Sonja]

Broken Link RemovedYou’re wrong. If the person is stable it’s not a problem at all.

My Controlled drugs are a month at a time and you have 28 days to pick them up. It's very difficult to try and get more even for a prolonged holiday. The computer will not allowed it. I managed to get 5 weeks once but 4 weeks were on a printed prescription and the other in a written prescription, followed by a call to the chemist. I think cost may be a big reason for not prescribing over 1 months at a time.

They are an Opiod and I have just seen I need a letter signed by the Spanish embassy to take them into Spain. I will have to investigate this further.

 

[carolyn]

My Controlled drugs are a month at a time and you have 28 days to pick them up. It's very difficult to try and get more even for a prolonged holiday. The computer will not allowed it. I managed to get 5 weeks once but 4 weeks were on a printed prescription and the other in a written prescription, followed by a call to the chemist. I think cost may be a big reason for not prescribing over 1 months at a time.

They are an Opiod and I have just seen I need a letter signed by the Spanish embassy to take them into Spain. I will have to investigate this further.

https://www.healthplanspain.com/blo...-bring-prescription-medicines-into-spain.htmlThis article quotes the Spanish Govt website so it looks like nothing has changed although the article is dated 2022. You need your UK prescription and a doctors letter.

 

[Clive Bishop]

Hi

Trying to get our GP to provide prescriptions to cover 8 week holiday practically impossible even if we can get to actually talk to them.

How easy is it to buy medicines over the counter in Spain and or France?

What do others do?

Thanks

Just back from Spain today as far as prescriptions some the wil dispense but expensive the best is to go to the medico and get a doctor to give you a prescriptio,that way it is very cheap.

 

[Red Sonja]

https://www.healthplanspain.com/blo...-bring-prescription-medicines-into-spain.htmlThis article quotes the Spanish Govt website so it looks like nothing has changed although the article is dated 2022. You need your UK prescription and a doctors letter.

Thanks Caroline. Might need an updated letter as my dose has increased.

 

[carolyn]

Thanks Caroline. Might need an updated letter as my dose has increased.

I would, Sod’s Law you’d catch someone having a particularly difficult day. 99% of the time they’d not even check if you had a letter plus the prescription.

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[Kevin R]

Hi

Trying to get our GP to provide prescriptions to cover 8 week holiday practically impossible even if we can get to actually talk to them.

How easy is it to buy medicines over the counter in Spain and or France?

What do others do?

Thanks

I spend winter (6 months) in Portugal and I take all the medication I need with me. However, I’m based in Germany, so I can just pop in to my GP and collect the prescriptions.

 

[Linda farley]

Hi

Trying to get our GP to provide prescriptions to cover 8 week holiday practically impossible even if we can get to actually talk to them.

How easy is it to buy medicines over the counter in Spain and or France?

What do others do?

Thanks

My son has always bought my medicine direct from a chemist or I go into the hospital and ask them to give me a prescription. Alternatively I have got a prescription from a doctor . All of that is easier than asking my gp. In France I have made an appointment and seen a gp. Make sure you have the new card that replaced the EHIC.

 

[denisejoe]

Denise had to see a doctor in France last year for a kidney infection cost was €25 then €7 for 3 lots of medication thought that was very reasonable.