I got letters from our Doctor for my wife and myself stating the medications etc. I made an appointment at a Doctor's Surgery, when prescriptions were due to be renewed, in whatever town I happened to be in. Worked for us for about 2 years.

 

The Phantom

Wow Phantom,  That easy?? I was thinking it would be a bleeding nightmare!! Oh thats fabulous. Thank You.

 

Just thought i would let you know it is a Regulation 24

We do what Phantom did. Got a letter listing what was wrong, what meds were in use before we left. Also a bunch of scripts (all with 5 repeats) to hold us over.

When we got to needing new scripts, toddled off to a GP in the town we were in. Got packed off for tests (wasn't happy with reported health changes), got told bad news, given copies of all test reports/results, bucketload of scripts, and away we went again. This is for a heart condition, osteoarthritis and emphysema. Working so far.

And he will fax persciption to chemist

Thanks everyone, This is great. Thanks so much for your help. I won't be so worried about it any more.

Landfill - hope you got sincere apologies for his appalling behavior.

We do the same as Phantom - the majority of GP's use the same software and when you ask for it, they just hit a button and it prints out all your current and previous meds (and when) and your current medical treatment.

If you want a 4 month supply, its important to remind your GP to write "Reg 24" on each script. If he doesn't do that along with printing the script with however number of repeats, chemists will not issue all the repeats in one hit. I use a med that isn't commonly available and can take up to a week for a chemist to get from the supplier, so I get all mine in one hit - always go to the same chemist (Chemist Warehouse), so I just phone them, till them I want to pick up 8 repeats and then they phone me when they come into the shop (I am their only customer to use them, so they only carry one bottle in stock usually which is just for me)

Gday...

I thought that if a person was on prescription "opiates" required an annual (at least) report on the patients condition and ability to drive a motor vehicle. In Victoria this is so.

My son is on Ritalin since he was a teenager (he is now 30) and when he went for his licence it was a question asked in the licence application and because of that he has had to produce a report from his psychiatrist each year. He carries a copy of that report with him in the vehicle along with the script and medication. He has had no problems with police checks.

And scripts are for only two repeats, giving three months supply, and can only be filled once each 30 days - and cannot be filled in any other state then the one where the script was written - in his case Victoria.

Similarly, there are other 'conditions' that also require annual (at least) reports from doctors confirm the patient's ability to drive a motor vehicle. Diabetes , both 1 and 2 for instance, if the patient is on medication - definitely insulin.

I think the only advice for each of us, is to consult with your doctor and pharmacist on any limitations/restrictions/special conditions concerning any medication you are on - particularly if you are travelling interstate.

Personally, I have medications for the "normal' old phart problems - blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid - and in seven years travelling have had not a problem getting scripts filled anywhere, and/or getting new scripts provided from doctors in the numerous towns I have just been passing through.

Cheers - John