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Boots are NUTS !!

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1*Needle

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I contacted my local chemist Boots, about my prescription being posted, they told me.. oh sorry but we don't deliver
here ?
7 days later my prescription was due for pick up, so I rang them and said, im in self isolation 72 and type 1 diabetic is
there anyway you could find a way to deliver it to me please.. an abrupt voice said, we are flooded with deliveries we
cant, you will have to come in and pick it up..? I cant im in isolation I said.. (Again) we are dealing with priority cases
and cant take on anymore.. get someone to pick it up for you she said, I said I cant I live alone, but anyway have a nice day !

Now, my way of thinking is whats wrong with one of them dropping it in my letterbox on the way home when they close..
the government are going on about "Helping each other" ect.. its these people that want to take notice of that !!
She spoke to me as if I was a nuisance, I suppose us old gits (to them) are a nuisance ?

Theres many without jobs, and loosing jobs.. why don't Boots get a young guy/girl delivering prescriptions on there
bike to us locals, and we pay them a fiver, or a couple of quid, it wouldn't cost Boots a penny.. these youngsters would jump
at that they would make a fortune..Its better than delivering rubbish leaflets & free newspapers !!
Then all we have to do is ring Boots to say we got it ok !

I still haven't got my prescription of insulin 2 types, ramaprill blood pressure tablets, and test strips.
No way am I risking infection to leave home to pick these up.. when I run out of what I have thats it, ive
had 2 lung infections in the last 16 months and ended up hospitalized, I just cant risk it !
When I run out, ill have to do without that's all..
Be safe and well...

18Needle..
 
Hi, sorry to hear of your difficulties getting medication. It would be nice if people practiced what they preach everyone says lets help each other etc but when it comes down to it they are not really interested.

I wonder if local members would be willing to help a fellow diabetic in need?

What location are you from?

Hopefully we can all help each other out, maybe pinned thread for people in need?

Ian
 
Are you on facebook, there are loads of groups popping up with a sole purpose to help people like you. Whilst this virus has shown a lot of selfish people, its also brought out a lot of good in people.
I wouldn't be to angry with Boots (although I can understand why you would be) but chemist and shops are ran off there feet at the moment. My son is a shop manager, and he is 60% down on staff due to this virus, and he cant employ anyone because off the long drawn out recruitment process that head office insist on.
If you haven't got facebook, some one you know may have.
 
As much as I understand your frustration and worry please don’t take it out on the staff. I’m working in retail in what’s classed as an emergency store (not sure I agree we are but hey ho) but I can tell you we are running every day at 100% we’ve lost staff due to illness but the work loads have increased enormous amounts. We are putting our self at risk dealing face to face with the public doing 14 hour shifts and the abuse we are starting to get is unreal. Spending hour after hour on edge all day is physically and mentally exhausting and I’ve seen many colleges in tears over this. Then when you do get home tired,you have the worry of have you caught something today? Will I be passing it on to family? Anti bac the house, boil wash and dry my clothes In case anything’s on those it doesn’t stop. So anyone who thinks when you leave off work your free you are not.
 
As an ex-retailer I rather agree with bakebeans. It's not as easy as you might think. All my prescriptions are sent to a local independent pharmacy who I am sure would deliver if it ever becomes necessary.
 
Do you have a local Lloyds? They are doing delivery to home from their central depot.
 
Weren't Boots the ones charging for prescription home delivery.?
I was concerned my local Pharmacy would become a little Boots, when my Pharmacists retired, fortunately they sold to another independent, who has 1 other shop.
 
I couldn't be sure about this, but I would imagine there to be a high likelihood that pharmacy delivery people wuld need to be DBS checked, due to their dealings with potentially vulnerable people and being entrusted with again, potentially, dangerous medications. There are also straightforward confidentiality issues.

Would you be comfortable with your next door neighbour's teenage son/daughter being privy to your medications? OK if you're just on insulin and so on, but for those on, say, anti psychotic or medications for very sensitive issues might not be too chuffed.

OK, most delivery people would have zero interesting in what medications Mr or Mrs Miggins is taking, but you can bet your bottom dollar they all have a phone, with data and a well honed ability to search the internet.

I'd second the suggestions for Facebook/Nextdoor or other community help groups that have sprung up in recent times, if you're stuck, although the same points apply to confidentiality and sensitivity.
 
Our Rowlands Chemist won't deliver Mum's meds neither so my brother is picking up his, Mums and mine. He says he'll probably get the virus and me and Mum will be okay! We think we had it already but we don't think he did. When he went to the chemist yesterday everybody was made to wait outside, only one at a time allowed into the shop and also to keep one's distance while waiting. They've got one staff member off sick but presumably not with the virus or we'd have heard about it.

I think you need your Ramipril! I hope you get help from somewhere.
 
Our Rowlands Chemist won't deliver Mum's meds neither so my brother is picking up his, Mums and mine. He says he'll probably get the virus and me and Mum will be okay! We think we had it already but we don't think he did. When he went to the chemist yesterday everybody was made to wait outside, only one at a time allowed into the shop and also to keep one's distance while waiting. They've got one staff member off sick but presumably not with the virus or we'd have heard about it.

I think you need your Ramipril! I hope you get help from somewhere.
Sounds sensible to me, when I was in mine earlier in the week, people were standing away from each other and the assistant serving was wearing gloves.
 
Hi @1*Needle ...Can Age Concern / Help the Aged help, Possibly your local library will have contacts or the Town Council Website - all these places are getting together to get volunteers lined up to help those who live alone. Many community projects springing up all the time - try contacting one of these to see if they can assist, or point you in the right direction for a helping hand.
 
Hi @1*Needle ...Can Age Concern / Help the Aged help, Possibly your local library will have contacts or the Town Council Website - all these places are getting together to get volunteers lined up to help those who live alone. Many community projects springing up all the time - try contacting one of these to see if they can assist, or point you in the right direction for a helping hand.
My library service has just closed for the forseeable future, as of this afternoon.
 
Have you managed to get them? Pharmacies are completely overrun at the moment so I’m sure it’s difficult logistically for them but it’s also really hard to be concerned about getting your meds in a timely manner so I feel for you.
There have been lots of people on social media willing to help out and I’m sure someone local to you would collect your meds for you. Do you want some help finding someone?
 
Hello @1*Needle

I’m sorry, I missed this post earlier. I am going to refer this on to Diabetes UK to see if they have any contacts or local volunteers who could help.

I understand your concerns about the virus and decision for self isolation but we need to find a way to get these meds to you!
 
Just wondering how much insulin and medication you have left in the house @1*Needle?

While you have very valid concerns about the risks of Coronavirus, the more I think about your situation the more I would encourage you to attempt collection of your prescription yourself if other avenues do not present themselves before you begin to run really low on insulin.

As a person with diabetes, and in older years you do have increased risk of a severe case of coronavirus if you were to catch it, but if you took sensible precautions (arrived early for collection so there wasnt a queue etc, washed hands on return, kept as much distance as you can from anyone you pass on the street or in the shop) there is no reason to assume that you definitely would catch the virus, and even if you were unfortunate enough to catch it, there's still every chance you could only have a mild illness.

Of course in an ideal world you will find a way to get the prescritino delivered (eg a local volunteer group, church or charity - even ordering a taxi or local courier company to go and collect it)...

But one thing is for certain you need that insulin to survive. So on one hand you have absolute certain trouble, and on the coronavirus side you only have an element of unwelcome risk.
 
I thank you for everyones replies and valid suggestions.. I did get my prescription in the end, it was a miracle
really, I had a phone call out of the blue, it was an old friend I hadn't seen in yrs and we were chatting and i
told him of my situation.. he volunteered to pic them up for me immediately, so I was saved and relieved.

I do want to stress, that I do appreciate the hard and strenuous work staff undergo in the medical profession,
and that includes all chemists that assists us all, as they play a big part in getting all our medications...
we all get stressed and frustrated sometimes, myself included, perhaps more so than others..

A big Thank You to all concerned !!

1*Needle
 
So glad you got sorted @1*Needle its a relief to the forum.
 
That’s great news @1*Needle

What a happy chance that your friend got in contact.
 
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