I have been going to great lengths to get my usual thyroxine these last 18 months. However today, my favourite pharmacy have told me that the system of ordering from wholesalers has changed within the last week or two - to a free-for-all, with orders picked up by any of their wholesalers, who then send whatever they have. If true, this means that the last vestiges of control over what comes in have ended.
Is it true?
Does anyone have inside information - any pharmacists on this platform?
Written by
singingtoad
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Even independents change ownership. My local independent did just that a few years back and changed their ordering system so you needed to allow a week for almost anything and your prescriptions came back packaged in shrink wrap and had been picked by a robot. The pharmacy couldnt even contact them to check on anything. It was absolutely terrible and they lost many customers because of it including myself.
So eventually there was almost no stock on their shelves because they didnt have the money to pay the wholesalers and presumably they went bust and got bought out by a different independent. I'm now back using that pharmacy and all is well, and prescriptions dispensed in a reasonable amount of time.
See how it goes but you might need to find yourself an alternative chemist until this one sorts itself out.
Thank you for taking the trouble to reply. Perhaps it is just this pharmacy, but I got the impression it was either a National change, or maybe the district.
The lady who has been especially helpful is on holiday this week. Next week I will seek her out and find out all I can. If it is a National issue, or even an area issue, we need to be writing to M.P.s at the very least. Many people need consistency of medication, and all thyroxine-taking patients do.
I have looked at several pharmaceutical trade news sites and none have a story which appears to tie in to what you have been told. Certainly not at the national level.
However, changes of wholesaler, changes to computer systems, changes within wholesalers, could well be too small to attract the attention of such publications.
That's encouraging. Maybe I just got someone with less knowledge. I have found that, probably, getting the right stuff ordered is down to the knowledge and determination of the person you are dealing with, as well as their caring motivation. However, I am defeated this time and will have to accept - from one pharmacy or another - the 'wrong' make!
Today the especially helpful lady at my 'super' pharmacy could not be reached because the shop's phone number "could not be recognized". That's all I know. This is a sizeable shop with 5 or 6 staff working all the time, and a large storeroom.
Other kind suggestions made here were:
Try other pharmacies:
-- I've been doing that for 18 months or so! It has involved days out on long bus runs!
Get the GP to add the desired make to the prescription:
-- been there, done that. If it isn't available they just have to give you what is available. It didn't seem to help, and I think I was soon put in the position of having to ask the GP to take the specified make/brand off again. Now my scripts say "patient prefers ..... " which seems a good compromise.
Today stocked up with the make/brand which always makes me unwell, because I have to have something.
I'm sorry to say the "patient prefers" is unlikely to hold water - the pharmacy have no real pressure to supply what you need. And, from their point of view, if your preferred make is more expensive, they could actually lose out by supplying it.
What make are you wanting?
The prescription needs to be specific in order for the pharmacy to claim a higher rate (if applicable).
My UK medicines document has prices in it - so you can see whether what you are getting is less costly to them than what you want!
helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines - UK
The UK document contains:
Up-to-date versions of the Summary Matrixes for levothyroxine tablets, oral solutions and liothyronine available in the UK. These include declared ingredients for all UK-licensed products.
Details of every dosage of each medicine include PL numbers, PIP numbers, tablet markings, product history and links to:
● Patient Information Leaflets
● Summary of Product Characteristics
● Product Assessment Reports
● Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d) entry and current prices
Document has links to:
● British National Formulary
● NHS Drug Tariff, etc.
PLUS how to write prescriptions in Appendix F.
Also includes links for anti-thyroid medicines (but not product details).
Thank you Helvella - again. I'm not in a position to fight at the moment. I'm 2 weeks late getting the stuff because I've been unwell and had a painful back, and there's no way of chasing around like that. The remaining local pharmacies are over-busy due to others having shut down. The one which was my regular for a while has moved to an even more unsuitable premises and I didn't recognize any of the staff yesterday. But they still had, in stock, the two bottles I rejected a couple of months ago, when it was possible to get a preferred make elsewhere. So at least I won't run out!!
I have issue with any of my local pharmacies being able to get the brand of T3 I take. Gp prints on prescription "Morningside only brand" and I get a paper copy and post it to Springfield pharmacy in Surrey, they post me my meds. They specialise in dealing with thyroid medications, and have supplied my T3 prescription for nearly 2 years. They are on the Thyroid UK list of pharmacies If you can't sort it out locally, Springfield could be an option for you.
It's a bit of mither but worth if for peace of mind knowing you can get the brand you need.
I'd really rather not resort to a delivery service, especially with mine being liquid in glass bottles. My late husband had his meds delivered by a courier and the parcel was sometimes thrown over the back gate, just missing a gully!! Yet when they do the required thing and only deliver when you are in to receive in person, that's a problem too.
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