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Policy for Medication Supply
Travelling abroad for up to three months and intending to return
An NHS prescription for regular medication will be given to cover the
three month period providing the GP is happy that any monitoring
required is up to date and satisfactory.
The patient will remain registered with the practice.
Travelling abroad for more than three months or not intending to
return
An NHS prescription for one month's supply of regular medication will
be provided. This allows sufficient time for the journey to be
undertaken and a suitable medical practitioner to be engaged in the
overseas country.
The patient will be removed from the practice list.
Requests for other medication to take abroad
No medication other than that which a patient takes on a regular
basis will be prescribed. This includes antibiotics, treatments for
diarrhoea or any other 'just in case' treatment. If the patient is
already abroad, no prescriptions can be issued. NHS prescriptions or
medication cannot be sent abroad.
If the practice is aware that you are travelling abroad for longer
than three months and does not take the appropriate action, as stated
above, it could be considered to be acting in a fraudulent manner.
This protocol is based on current NHS regulations:
- 'The NHS accepts responsibility for supplying ongoing medication
for temporary periods abroad of up to 3 months'.
- 'If a person is going to be abroad for more than three months then
all that the patient is entitled to at NHS expense is a sufficient
supply of his/her regular medication to get to the destination and
find an alternative supply of that medication.'
- 'where a person for whose treatment a doctor is responsible leaves
the United Kingdom with the intention of being away for a period of at
least three months, that person is removed from the doctor's list and
as a consequence, ceases to be eligible for NHS treatment.'
References
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074383
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074386
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074384
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2004/20040291.htm#25c
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