But how often are checks like BP and women or man health checks done if you do not see youyr GP?? The prescriber has responsibility to ensure what is prescribed is being taken etc. Insulin affects more than what endos look at !!! What is the world coming too!!!
But, But. But a prescriber is responsible for ensuring that all is well regrading that prescriptoin and others. In Oz a script with repeats lasts 6 months so that a review is required. That may seem excessive but for a BP medication there may be a need to change dose, to check of side-effects some of which as only detected on blood testing, there may be yearly checks for screening etc. Do dentists hand out lollies and never check teeth??
I haven't been taking meds on repeat for 12 months yet, but as far as I can tell from the systems messaging, my repeat is done in a 12 month trache. Obviously 12 scripts aren't signed off, but I imagine the countdown would be to some form of review/chat or whatever.
As I am currently still titrating and e-consultations are still bouncing back and forth between GP and Endo, the 12 month gate shifts with each treatment adjustment .
Things like mamography, smear tests, eye screening and so on are handled remotely, with appointments being generated from a centralised point, for services executed remotely to the surgery, or a letter is sent requiring the patient to make their appointment.
As far as dental services are concerned, if a patient is referred for specialist care (the probably most frequent of which would be adolescents for fixed orthodontic care), the specialist deals with their specialist referral, but the patient still needs to have their routine check-ups at the referring durgery.
Systems differ over the world.
Where I am right now, I can walk into a pharmacy and buy thyroid meds, inclusing liothyronine and insulin over the counter, just at my request. For the record I haven't.
I can recall a T2 member (but can't recall his name, and wouldn't name him anyway), a while ago, who had rocked up and bought himself some fast acting insulin, so that he could have carby meals as and when he chose to without, in his view, harming himself.
I have been interested to find a reliable source of T3, should it eventually be required, as it is rarely available on the NHS these days, due to cost. The NHS pays c£300 for 30 tablets, wherease I can buy 100 tablets of 100mcgr, including worldwide shipping for £47 from here.
Whilst no system is ideal, what is clear is patients need to be engaged with their own health wherever they are in the world.