Quick question for the GPs, pls

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PaulaMc Jun 2011 12:59pm, 3 Jun 2011 1,332 posts	0 PaulaMc Is it a GP's responsibility to oversee all the tablets/medication that their patients take? Thanks
fitzer Jun 2011 1:00pm, 3 Jun 2011 2,767 posts	0 fitzer Suppose it depends who prescribe them ie hospital ward or consultant
plodding hippo Jun 2011 1:19pm, 3 Jun 2011 34,620 posts	0 plodding hippo It depends Paula Some drugs are overseen by the hospital, for example transplant immunosuppressive drugs and EPO Depends on lots of factors/agreements we used to do a lot of "shared care" for such stuff here, but thats going by the by now
JohnnyO Jun 2011 1:34pm, 3 Jun 2011 8,813 posts	0 JohnnyO Depends what you mean by oversee?
Velociraptor Jun 2011 1:35pm, 3 Jun 2011 16,221 posts	0 Velociraptor Only the ones we prescribe.
PaulaMc Jun 2011 1:38pm, 3 Jun 2011 1,333 posts	0 PaulaMc MiL is taking tablets for high blood pressure, painkillers, water tablets and warfarin (all prescribed by GP) and some anti-bs which were prescribed by hospital doctor for an ulcer on her foot. She has recently stopped taking statins (prescribed by GP). Currently has severe muscle problems and suspected cellulitis. She's convinced that her GP is just dishing things out without checking what she's already on, and also thinks that the anti-bs from the hospital are too strong and shouldn't be taken in conjunction with the other things she's on. Her GP has a letter from the hospital telling him about the anti-bs, but she has unilaterally decided not to take them and her ulcer is getting worse. She's having a big round of blood tests on Monday but I just wanted to be clear myself about what the GP should/shouldn't be expected to know. There's a lot of confusion involved in talking to her or FiL at the moment ...!
HellsBells Jun 2011 1:39pm, 3 Jun 2011 7,935 posts	0 HellsBells legally the responsibility rests with whoever signs the prescription which is why we get shirty with hospital consultants when they ask us to prescribe specialised stuff we've never heard of. Any patient on repeat medication should have a medication review either 6 or 12 monthly depending on what/how many medications they are taking. Shared care drugs include a lot of the things used in rheumatology where regular monitoring is needed - there will be local guidelines relating to these but i would expect a patient on shared care drugs to be seen both by GP and consultant Fmail me if you need more
plodding hippo Jun 2011 1:40pm, 3 Jun 2011 34,623 posts	0 plodding hippo well, its a good start that the GP has a letter form the hospital about the anti bs so hozzie and GP are communicating
plodding hippo Jun 2011 1:42pm, 3 Jun 2011 34,624 posts	0 plodding hippo but its not up to the GP to make sure your mil TAKES the pills
HellsBells Jun 2011 1:42pm, 3 Jun 2011 7,936 posts	0 HellsBells in our budget constrained days we don't prescribe anything we don't have to - that combination sounds fine and the only potential interaction is with the antibiotics and the warfarin Sounds more to me as though the reasons for each drug haven't been explained properly rather than bad prescribing