I have no idea where else to go. Help for NHS prescription please?

Posted by Panda-Head@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 30 comments

I ordered my repeat prescription on 20th of November and it still hasn't been signed. I run out on Thursday. They were asked on Tuesday last week, after having it for 8 days, and they said "we will put it through as urgent and it will be done tomorrow". I called on Thursday, after they'd had it for 10 days, and was told "we will put it through as urgent and it will be done tomorrow". Now it's Monday, I called again, the person I talked to said they would take it herself and get it done today, but they've already had it for 2 weeks so I'm not holding my breath. Last month it took 2 weeks to get it sent from Pharmacy2U, and I ran out, but I had other antibiotics in the house so I swapped to those till I got the prescription. I really don't want to have to do that again but it looks like I'll have to. I've already contacted the hospital to ask for some to be sent, and they said I should be called by the Boots in the hospital on Wednesday to arrange delivery, but last time they said they would they didn't and I ended up not getting it at all. What can I do about it? I don't even know where to complain to.

30 Comments

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kelleehh@reddit

It might depend on the drug you’re asking for. Many people are addicted to painkillers and other medications, so drs can be reluctant about letting patients have it earlier than they should.

Panda-Head@reddit (OP)

Antibiotic. I contacted 111 and they've sent a referral to the pharmacy but I'm not holdlng my breath.

PlzBeInLondon@reddit

Not answering your question but I ended up moving away from Pharmacy2u because of delays on orders and them claiming no stock when I could get it same day from other pharmacies in person. The delivery was really convenient but running out of insulin was not.

Several-Lunch-7303@reddit

Ask for the repeat prescription to be sent to a local pharmacy and not pharmacy 2U as a one off. You can also contact pharmacy 2U directly and ask them to send the prescription to a local pharmacy to speed things up once it's signed off.

BeingKhaleesi@reddit

I’ve previously called 111 and they had a specific option for sorting repeat prescriptions and were able to get it sorted the same day as a short term solution whilst I got it sorted with my GP.

dragonduckdog@reddit

But the OP doesn’t need it today so I doubt 111 will help

Softpaw514@reddit

If you're having persistent issues 111 can be really helpful for dates stuff as well occasionally. I was refused proper dosages if anti-psychotic medication after being discharged from a centre and the new GP wouldn't do anything. 111 sent an ambulance during an emergency, the guys were really nice and ensured that they put through extremely strict orders to the surgery to immediately organise a prescription as soon as possible. Finally got the meds a few days later and everything was fine from there. They're able to give a nudge and push to surgeries that are neglecting critical medication duties and having that 111 call is visible to almost all NHS facilities accessing your data so it's easy to track as you not being difficult.

GlitchingGecko@reddit

Go to the surgery in person and refuse to leave til it's been signed.

OccidentalTouriste@reddit

They'd likely call the Police.

613663141@reddit

I used to work as a Dispenser and we were used to dealing with arrogant and entitled people on a daily basis. You can't tell them to buffer off because they're a patient, so they can lord this power over you. Asking for a signed prescription in an urgent situation isn't being entitled, we would wait outside the duty doctor's door even if it meant wasting 20 minutes.

Notblondeblueeye@reddit

I'm not sure what pharmacy you worked for but you can absolutely ask people to leave, refuse service and return all prescriptions to the spine if a patient is being abusive. Source = have done this lots of times. Saves a lot of hassle and means you kerb the behaviour of abusive patients.

goblinf@reddit

Right. But. Turning up and asking for a prescription and that you'll wait til it's ready is NOT abusive. What's abusive is swearing or shouting or threatening. This is just turning up and saying firmly but politely you'll wait whilst they sort it out. (I had to do this recently, they looked a bit flummoxed, 20 mins later a gp turned up with duly signed paperwork. Cos the named gp was working from home that day and had 'forgotten' to do it. sigh. Regardless within an hour, I had my crucial meds. so).

Not a pharmacy, a GP surgery.

king_ralex@reddit

Yeah my experience at the GP has more been the receptionist sending my (mostly) contained frustration and taking pity on me and taking the prescription straight to the doctor to get signed. You'll find that if you explain the situation *most* people will be happy to help if it's within their power to do so.

Lol, like the police will turn up for that.

Turn up to the surgery. Explain to them what's happened and say you'll just wait until they hand it to you so you can go collect it directly from pharmacy. OR phone PALS for your area, tell them all this, and let them shoot your bullets for you. They'll put a rocket under the lead GP, and GP reception will phone you and tell you to turn up after a few hours and it'll be ready for you (in theory...)

Far_Sky_29131@reddit

It's shocking the NHS can't seem to perform basic tasks and provide timely care. Hope you get your meds soon, this bureaucracy is maddening. Stay well.

If you ordered it on the 20th November and you don’t run out until Thursday you have ordered it far too early. In my experience anything ordered more than a week before it’s due to run out is rejected unless there’s a good reason such as going on holiday. Also, you’re talking to reception, not the prescriber. They may well be putting the request to the doctor but the doctor is not signing it off because it’s not due yet.

Spiritual_Sand3402@reddit

It's possible the prescription team has rejected it because it's too early, future dated the script for being early or schedule tasked it for a date closer. I work in prescribing and if there's no note, I do my checks and future date it for when it's due and move on.

Ella1998_@reddit

You could try and get a same day appointment and say you need to speak to a gp about something and then get them to give u the prescription

smushs88@reddit

Christ your pharmacy sound delightful and seem to love bureaucracy. Unless it’s your only option I’d change pharmacies out of spite. (I did this recently with ours who made it as difficult as possible for working individuals to get there during opening hours and only opened for 3 hours on a Saturday morning) Good luck, as others have said worse case attend the surgery and refuse to leave / make a formal complaint whilst there.

No its not the pharmacy's fault there are very strict legalities surrounding emergency prescription and it is very explicitly against several rules and a law to give medication as an emergency when it is not covered by these rules. The pharmacist could seriously loose their registration over this and its an extremely dangerous practice that looses people their lives. It is not beaurocracy, it is healthcare that saves lives and helps prevent overdoses and checks people have been taking their medication as prescribed. The pharmacy is not the issue here. Do not reccomend changing the pagramcy as this is likely to cause even more issues as the pharmacy would need to accept the prescription for dispensing (they're not legally obligated to accept all prescriptions and if its not a medication that the particular pharmacy keeps in regular stock then they'll have to order it which causes more delays, OPs had these medications before which makes it far more likely that his current pharmacy will have stock) Changing pharmacy due to incompatible opening hours is a different issue and I doubt your current pharmacy minded at all. After all, if their opening hours caused them significant lost business they wouldn't have them would they??

Gyppsymagic@reddit

I don't think this is the pharmacies fault at all, if the prescription hasn't been done they're limited on what they can do.

saladinzero@reddit

> I don't even know where to complain to. Who is responsible for this prescription? If it's your GP, contact the practice manager and request their complaints procedure (use that exact phrase). If it's the hospital, contact their PALS service (Patient Advice and Liaison) who will help you.

Nell0pe@reddit

EXACTLY this, OP. I had almost the exact issue you described with my renewal last year, and I lodged a formal complaint with the practice. It's unacceptable.

IansGotNothingLeft@reddit

Our village pharmacy ( the one that usually gets the prescriptions) will give us a "top up" in an emergency, if it's a repeat. I'm unsure where they'd stand if it was a one off.

padmasundari@reddit

Complain to the practice manager, and inform them in the complaint that you have raised the complaint several times informally over the last x months and that you now wish to raise a formal complaint. In your email inform them that if no resolution is found and you are not provided with your prescriptions in a timely and appropriate manner you will be left with no other option but to raise a complaint with NHS England. The link below will explain how you can complain to NHS England. The GP will likely light a fire under its arse if they think NHS England will be after them as they are the commissioners etc and can make their loves miserable and difficult. https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/feedback-and-complaints/complaint/complaining-to-nhse/#:~:text=Make%20a%20complaint%20to%20NHS,telephone%3A%200300%20311%2022%2033

Low-Total9121@reddit

Go into the surgery and get a paper prescription

Accurate-Book-4737@reddit

Ask to speak to the practice manager and make sure they are clear this is a complaint. And that you need the prescription signing IMMEDIATELY

wellyboot97@reddit

I would call 111. Then if they can’t help, I would go to your surgery and speak to someone and stand your ground. I hate confrontation more than anyone but sometimes you just have to. Then I would definitely look into swapping to a different doctors and pharmacy as your current one seems incompetent

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