Orencia and Sciensus !

[medway-lady]

So back on 28 September I confirmed delivery today of Orencia for today (Abatercept) and Saturday got a late text saying not dispensed ! So today after an anxious weekend I got through to Sciensus and it appears to be in short supply. They did not seem to understand that cancelling a delivery when people have other commitments is just not acceptable at such short notice. My fury is beyond words that their cavalier attitude that they can now deliver on thursday means that 1) they lie about supplies or 2) they made an error and failed to see their own record of confirmation. I don't know but this is dissapointing. I advised them I was telling them to delete the app from my account as it appears to not work anyway as the order for 21 November states not available despite them saying on my text it is. GGrrrr I'm convinced this pantomime is down to an absurd attitude of high handed business with no respect for patients. This is the third month running I've spent 40 minutes trying to get through even at 8am and I'm writing to chief executive by recorded delivery to say how this impacts on people who don't need the stress. I do understand about shortage of supplies but they could have contacted me and explained not left it to me to chase up.

[Madmusiclover]

let NRAS know too. What a mess. Breathe…..

[medway-lady in reply to Madmusiclover]

Yes I will. Such stress. xxx

[Marionfromhappydays]

Sorry this has happened to you.

Every single time have to chase my delivery and every single time they say they don't have my prescription even though they do.

My Experience is they default to generic lies ie "we haven't got your prescription " when they do;Previously ive posted on here an email i received from them in error stating they received my prescription 3 weeks ago but its not been dispensed yet to me they still said they hadn't received the prescription.

Considering the expense and importance of these drugs the company suppling them doesn't seem to be well moderated. My rheumatology department are furious about their valuable time been taken up with chasing peoples apparently missing prescriptions.

Hope you do get them this week, ive 1 pen left and currently chasing mine too

[medway-lady in reply to Marionfromhappydays]

I got the name of person who confirmed delivery on the 30 September so I was more than calmly cross. I contacted NRAS will speak to RA unit and MP as I'm sure I'm not the only one very annoyed to be treated as a moron whose time is not valuable or of interest to them. "they would have called me today' was said that is the delivery day and as I said you can see the next delivery is the 21 November so what happens as no meds for 3 weeks. That took some explaining. So very irritated by the poor customer care and even less interest or capability of understanding basic maths. lol xx

PS in todays conversation I pushed the record button on the phone and did say I'm recording this.

[Marionfromhappydays in reply to medway-lady]

I'm totally with you

[Hidden]

Not even going to get into my frequent, appalling dealings with Sciensus, just wanted to say I share in, and can sympathise with, your anger and frustration. As a coroporate entity being paid by the NHS to provide a service to patients, they are an absolute disgrace, and take zero responsibility for their routine incompetence and cavalier disregard. My issues with them have been ongoing for more than 3 years now, across both rheum and respiratory care. Nothing changes even with complaints and, as I understand it from a senior pharmacist at my daughter’s hospital, the NHS services using them are locked into contracts that make it near enough impossible to switch provider even with the terrible service.

[medway-lady in reply to Hidden]

Isn't it shocking ? my husband is having oncology care and so he changed appointment so I could take delivery and then Sciensus cancelled it. And as for the neighbours taking delivery, we haven't got any !!! so now a friend has to come on Thursday to take the delivery and I'm so coldly angry I told them that they are a disgrace as they let people down without any care or consideration. My prescription was not filled due to a shortage but now they have it ???Methinks thats a rat. x

[Gnarli]

Having had issues with them from the time they changed from H&H I am in full sympathy with you on their so-called service. I cannot wait for their contract to be cancelled for incompetence however, I suspect that any successors appointed would be equally perishing useless.

[Feank]

have had many run ins with them ! Total waste of time talking or emailing with them..incompetent lot of uselessness! Not sure what else to say! Good luck with it.

[Paula-C]

I saw the following recently, the BSR are asking parliament to investigate them.

rheumatology.org.uk/news/de...

[Runrig01]

I’ve had the same situation as Marionfromhappydays, where they say they’ve not received prescription. You then run around trying to get your rheumatologist to send it, only to find they sent it weeks ago, and that scienceus lied.

Nass posted a post on their forum stating that the British Society of Rheumatology have asked parliament to undertake an investigation into home care services. They are calling for people to write letters to their mp, and have template letters ti send. Here’s the link for anyone interested

rheumatology.org.uk/news/de...

[SeroNegArt]

Had loads of similar problems with Sciensus. Made both verbal and written complaints to no avail. Still no delivery after 3 weeks. Found a very long list of similar complaints reported on the NHS feedback stream for Sciensus. NHS advised me to report Sciensus directly to Care Quality Commission. Took to Twitter to see if anyone else having issues in getting through to Sciensus. Ironically, go a tweet from @Sciensus_Group asking me to email [e-mail] to sort the delivery. Within 24 hours of emailing, delivery arrived after an 8 hour wait for a private courier. The drugs are ambient and could have been posted or collected from local pharmacy. I could collect my Benepali injections from my local hospital pharmacy. The cost of the continuing failure of the Sciensus aka Healthcare at Home service to both the NHS and patients is catastrophic. If you have had similar issues please do report through every means possible, especially your local Integrated Care Board, Healthwatch, MP, Patient Participation Group. Most importantly, do report your concerns directly to the Care Quality Commission. The more we speak truth to power, the better the likelihood things will change for the better. RA and other autoimmune disorders are awful to live with and preventing access to appropriate medication is unforgivable. I know it takes effort to speak up when you are are feeling low and in constant pain, but please consider those who might not be able to speak up. Let's not just rely on @RheumatologyUK report to do our duty for us. Their report is excellent, but the patient voice should be as powerful as the professionals. Let's join together and help improve the home delivery service for EVERYONE. 😊💪🏽✊🏼🌱

[medway-lady in reply to SeroNegArt]

I'm drafting a letter to the CQC and will do to local MP I'm in total agreement we have to speak up. I'll also going to speak to RA consultant n November and will write to the new Health Secretary of State, in fact anyone who can help in pursuit of getting better control of these huge money making companies. I will respond more later as have to go out now. xx

[SeroNegArt]

Excellent! ✊🏼🎉

[Skyeblue2]

Hello Medway-Lady. I'm sorry you are going through this dreadful situation, it's frustrating and stressful. I understand how you and many other people are feeling.

Recently I went without my weekly injection despite the valiant efforts of my medical team and myself to prevent this happening.

If you are experiencing any difficulties re delivery of your medications, please be proactive in raising your complaint. NHS is tied into contracts that are now not in the patients' best interests.

This is how I addressed my own issue.

1. Inform your medical team what has happened.

They are already trying to support many of their patients who are having the same experiences. It's time consuming and unnecessary and deflects from caring for their patients.

2. Contact your named Homecare Pharmacist who is likely to work from your hospital Pharmacy, they ensure your prescription is adhered to and they have direct contact with named people within Lloyds Pharmacy, Bristo Myers Squibb and other manufacturers and distributors.

My Homecare Pharmacist took a Formal Complaint on my behalf and raised his concerns with my NHS Board.

I have received a very detailed response from Lloyds Pharmacy Clinical Homecare to this formal complaint with a formal apology. This response has been copied and placed into my patient records.

I am now receiving all expected deliveries.

3. Contact your MP and ensure you are given a Caseworker and a Case Number. Put into writing what your experience is and how you want this addressed.

I have received a copy of the Chief Executives response to my MP which has given me a clear insight to these NHS contracts and the difficulties NHS is experiencing. The more MPs who are made aware of this situation should finally ensue it is raised in parliament!

I hope that BRS, NRSA and others, do eventually manage to have these issues addressed at the highest level, and soon!

Hope you get some resolution soon.

[medway-lady in reply to Skyeblue2]

I am drafting a letter at the moment and won't let this go as it is cavalier and I am pretty good at taking action so definitely will make sure I'm heard. Thank you and I will do just as you suggest it can only improve things if enough people make their voices heard. I'm just so angry to be treated like a moron whose time is not important. Boy! have they picked on the wrong one here. lol xxx

[Skyeblue2 in reply to medway-lady]

Good Luck and you know that you are not alone.

[Green230461]

Sciencus they told me that they did not have my prescription tang hospital and they said they had it electronically! Just liars! Then they said I should still have a week of tablets left- I told them that I have three boxes with 28 tablets each. Most months have 30/31 days hence the issue- hopeless! Had to wait four days without tablets.

[Living-in-the-moment]

hi, they are bad. I complained countless times over the phone, then sent an email complaint and said that I was going to take it up with The Care Qualty Commission and got almost immediate attention and appology. Worth a try! You could even actually complain. I was so worn down by the whole debacle and so grateful to finally get my medication, I just couldn’t be bothered, should have been though!

[Retirednhs]

they have a new updated