Trouble getting prescriptions

[fraid]

Having trouble getting prescriptions sorted.I’m in a ridiculous catch 22 situation with surgery. My Fentanyl patches did not arrive 10 days after friend put request in to chemist.Phoned surgery,said they hadn’t got one.I explained several times that I cannot trust my now X to put them in for me,forgets.So dependent on when/if my one friend visits- she is ill too- I cannot get to post box,totally housebound,can’t walk/ stand more than few mins.

Tried again to do online won’t let me,never managed before,says my account closed,won’t even let me change my password,spent hour trying.Finally tells me go to practice,- I cannot. Phone surgery,totally intransigent woman says post it,can’t,told her 8 times,says it’s the rules,8 times.I get upset,feel so helpless,she doesn’t care.I suggest : then I have to get appt with doc who CAN do it direct.No,they don’t do prescriptions over phone.But doc can,says I,yes says she!

Utterly ridiculous! I have noone but noone down here to even post a letter should my friend not visit!I try chemist again - they can do it over phone! I just ring tell them what I need,allow 10 days.

Why are people who are alone and housebound not told this? Maybe not all chemists do it,but it is a lifeline for people in my situation. There should be more flexible rules at surgeries for such people.

Shameful!Don’t know if this helps anyone but needed pointing out how flawed and rigid the stupid system is! Rant over,have a good day. X

[Fruitandnutcase]

When you finally get your prescription ask your pharmacist if they will organise your repeat prescriptions for you. Hopefully they will deliver it for you too. I know our local boots does all that. All I do now is tick the request box for what I want, my pharmacist requests the prescription from my GP and sends me a text when it’s ready to collect. I’m able to go and get it but like I say they can deliver to people who can’t get out. Good luck.

[fraid in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thanks,do that already but my problem is getting prescription TO chemist/ dox.I am not able to walk & do not have pixies at my disposal to deliver them,put in post ,which is the whole problem.Hopefully sorted now,we’ll see…

[Iowe in reply to fraid]

Can you email your prescription request to your surgery as I know my surgery accept this?

[Met00 in reply to fraid]

My GP practice sends my prescription direct to my nominated pharmacy. Can you ask your GP to do the same?

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Met00]

That’s what I meant. My GP sends the prescription to the chemist electronically. I just collect the prescription and tell them what I need for next time. I do it when I go in but you want yours delivered.

[fraid in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Again,perhaps I didn't explain it well,but problem is getting Prescription TO doc,they will not accept over phone,nor email option.Means I would have to phone 8 am every time,hope to get slot to speak to doc/ nurse who could then order it direct to chemist.It’s hard to even get dox to answer phone!Like I said,catch 22!Anyhoo hope will work now can order direct to chemist over phone.

Have not yet delivered,shall have to phone again,sigh.

Thanks for all input though.X

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to fraid]

Your pharmacist should do it for you. If not phone your GP and ask if they know of any local voluntary groups who do that sort of thing Age U.K. for example. There must be some way of doing it - you can’t be the only person who is unable to get out and who needs prescriptions - I can’t believe your surgery doesn’t have some sort of arrangements in place for people in your position.

[1000Miler]

Have you tried any of the many online prescription delivery services? I use Lloyds Direct and it works well.Download the Lloyds Direct app, then set up an account and list your meds. You enter the number of days worth of each med that you have left, then when it reaches 10 days, the app sends a notification and an email to remind you to order.

I recommend that you allow some contingency, so that you always have about 4 weeks worth of meds in hand. So if you have, for example, 50 days of a certain med left, subtract 30 from that and state in the app that you have 20 left. You'll then get reminders to order in plenty of time and will have enough meds in hand to cover any delays.

When ordering your meds, be sure to select "home delivery" and not "collect from pharmacy".

[fraid]

Haven’t heard of that before.If this doesn't work now I can phone chemist and order over phone,will look into that. Other problem is they’ll only give me 15 days of Fentanyl patches,refused to give me months worth,as controlled drug - I’m not selling them or putting them on my toast! Have said will do this time,not sure again though,she’s a right stroppy wotsit!😡Strop says won’t give me them so close together though it takes a week to get it through.Put last one in 18 days ago,said never got it- I think she put it in the bin coz it was too early! 😂Plus sometimes they go white,fall off so have to change before 3 days is up,so I get ahead,use em too quickly.

Chemist does home deliver now but like I said it’s putting IN prescriptions was the trouble,hope sorted now.

Thanks for all your help guys,it’s a worry running out of them coz pain extreme.I shall have run out by Monday so hope they come soon.🤞X

[Mavary]

Hi.:why don’t you speak to the Drs receptionist. Explain that you are out of the patches but can’t do without them. Also tell them you are housebound. If they send the prescription to your chemist would they not deliver it to you. Mine does.

[walk21]

My neighbour has an arrangement with Lloyds who phone her when her repeat prescription is due to see what she wants. They then arrange the prescription with her doctor and deliver it in good time. She has to pay for this; I think it's about £36 a year, but I may not have that right. Worth asking about.

[walk21]

I meant to say that I was terrified when I had new fractures in my spine and my husband's heart was bad, to think how I would cope. I found a neighbour I had hardly spoken to who was willing to post things a fetch shopping, though I felt I could not ask often. I wonder if Age UK might be able to find someone who could help you occasionally, just to post things etc?

[Iowe]

I work as a GP receptionist and many patients order their prescriptions using the NHS app that they download. You then create your account and the app is then linked to your GP surgery where you can then order your prescriptions via the app and then your GP sends your prescription to your nominated preferred pharmacy electronically . As far as I am aware all NHS GP surgeries offer this service.

[fraid]

Again thanks,as I explained at beginning,would not let me do it online,tried many times but blocked.Told to GO to practice get new reg.Like I said catch 22 with intransigent surgery.Chemist have promised to deliver tomorrow,hope so.

Need to put end to this post as exhausted,but thanks all!🙂

[fraid]

Just to let you know,my fentanyl patches,months worth,just arrived.Fret over & time to sort out next lot,check over phone direct to chemist works.Thanks so much for your help,kindness .This forum has helped me so much,just sorry you are suffers too.Rain now welcome.X