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Prescription times

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.

ClaudiaKiwi

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
morning 🙂
Just rang pharmacy to see if I had a repeat script available. It seems my GP surgery now only allows patients to request scripts in person by going in there and popping a piece of paper in a box at front desk which then takes 2 days to process. They will also only issue me one month at a time?!?! Anyone else have the same issue ?? I think this is insane. I work in the city and for me to get to my GP I have to finish early from work, there is no online capacity. Is this CCG specific do you think ? Or have my GP surgery just gone mad (more so than normal I really don’t like them)
?!
 
morning 🙂
Just rang pharmacy to see if I had a repeat script available. It seems my GP surgery now only allows patients to request scripts in person by going in there and popping a piece of paper in a box at front desk which then takes 2 days to process. They will also only issue me one month at a time?!?! Anyone else have the same issue ?? I think this is insane. I work in the city and for me to get to my GP I have to finish early from work, there is no online capacity. Is this CCG specific do you think ? Or have my GP surgery just gone mad (more so than normal I really don’t like them)
?!
That does seem a bit mad! Ours has the 'post it in the box' system, but you can also ring to request a repeat ( there's a dedicated extension with an answerphone) and you can now do it online. I think all GPs are supposed to have installed an online facility by now, and you can report them somewhere if they haven't, but I'm sorry, I can't remember the details. I think @Lilian has provided this in the past. ( apologies, Lilian, if it wasn't you!)
 
My options are online or pop the repeat slip into a dedicated post box at the practice or via the pharmacy. I can put staggered repeats in as they run out at different times of the month. One repeat that does cause a problem is the B12 tablets as if I put it in slightly early without a note of why I want it early it gets refused.
 
Hi Claudia
I can either phone, email or present or post prescriptions. Boxes inside and outside surgery; quite good since I live in far west Cornwall and everything else is like living in Poldark times!!!!!
I order at least four days in advance but leave collection more than the 2 days they say it takes to fulfil, but no matter how far in advance I order there is always a 30 minute waiting time when I go to collect.
 
Try asking at your pharmacy they sometimes have a repeat prescription service that you can use
CAROL
I think Claudia was indicating that she used to do this and the gp surgery have stopped it. Seems mad to me.
 
It does seem to vary between CCG's and between surgeries in the same CCG. I do it online as well where the script is sent directly to the pharmacy ready to pick up. One month at a time is standard practice. If you can get your surgery to increase the quantities on each script then that helps but I was told at mine they may get quizzed by the CCG over 'excessive' amounts. However, it's not as if I'm going to stop needing any of it anytime soon. 🙄
 
'A month' is standard - however as has been said, you can see the GP and get him to override the 'automatic limits' that the CCG has put on the system - they have a code they enter to do this where it's sensible to do it - ours says no more than 100 strips once a month, but my own says 200, think EDUAD's says 300, etc.

Our place has boxes inside and outside the surgery outside door, hence there is nothing stopping me going past the place at 1am on a Saturday night, and posting one!
 
Time to seek another surgery I would say. One with online repeat-prescription service perhaps!
 
Hmmm thanks everyone. Appreciated. I think my surgery is in the dark ages. The pharmacy said my practice will only issue one month at a time of any medication and yep they can no longer request a repeat on my behalf.
I’m going to have to go in there and pop my request in the box lol. It’s like being at kindy and def no online services. I thought they were joking when they said no....
It appears I get 200 testing strips per month which is ok. The pharmacist seems to think that my surgery is trying to cut costs by this measure and to prevent wastage is what she got quoted.
Trouble I have is in terms of GPs there is minimal choice where I am. I’d love to get a new practice though. Ohhhhh the problems I have had .....
Anyhow thanks for the info and help. I’m going to google and see if I can locate a new practice who is accepting patients !!!
 
Hi Claudia
If you go on NHS Choices website to find GP services and input your postcode it comes up with all the nearest surgeries and what services they offer even tells you no. of patients registered,
 
Hi Claudia
If you go on NHS Choices website to find GP services and input your postcode it comes up with all the nearest surgeries and what services they offer even tells you no. of patients registered,
Fab ! Thank you. I will see what I can find. Hopefully somewhere new. Really cannot stand dealing with my surgery - the receptionist is the rudest person I have met in the UK so far. She is like that “computer says no” person but with fangs and venom and no I’m not kidding lol lol
 
Fab ! Thank you. I will see what I can find. Hopefully somewhere new. Really cannot stand dealing with my surgery - the receptionist is the rudest person I have met in the UK so far. She is like that “computer says no” person but with fangs and venom and no I’m not kidding lol lol
There are companies that provide online patient reviews of GP surgeries, hospitals etc, it may be worth looking up to see if there are any reviews for a particular surgery you are thinking of changing to. One company is
https://www.iwantgreatcare.org/search
(I have to declare an interest here, my daughter works for them! Other companies doing online reviews are probably available, but I don't know any off hand.)
 
Some of the GP practices in my area don't allow the pharmacists to order repeats, but the practices are part of a system where you ring a number and order a prescription that way, can't remember the name, but it's not one of the ones toting for business on the tv adds.

Another bonus for me is all my repeats are for two months, though with test strips this tends to be around six weeks worth, not tempted fate to ask for and increase on these as still a touchy subject, the main saving for me is the strips are needed for the meds I am on and I the driving which is very random so end up using a fair few for that reason.
 
Welcome to l.h.s local health service. I constantly read on here different stories of gp surgeries hospitals etc.. let’s make it national health the same country wide. By the way my surgery and friends from another county script in Monday ready Thursday. 3 day turn around. I use scripts monthly. Online too many mistakes.
 
Definitely seems like it’s hugely variable from
CCG to CCG eh ! If I can access online ordering then this would make my life so much better. I just think my surgery in general is scary. I have pretty much managed to avoid them up until this diagnosis. Dreading being discharged from the hospital system :(
 
Really cannot stand dealing with my surgery - the receptionist is the rudest person I have met in the UK so far. She is like that “computer says no” person but with fangs and venom and no I’m not kidding lol lol
One of my early poems...😱 :D I can put my prescriptions in whenever I want, usually every 6 weeks or so. This makes sense as my blood pressure pills last 56 days. I get 300 strips per script, 200 needles and 5 novorapid cartridges 🙂

The Rude Receptionists



We’ve all met doctor’s receptionists that are rude and unhelpful from time to time. They’re not all like that, of course, but I heard of a recent incident where a diabetic patient was attempting to hand in a sharps bin (a sealed, plastic bucket for storing used needles and lancets) at her doctor’s surgery…




The Rude Receptionists

‘I’ve filled up my sharps bin, can I give it to you?’
‘I’m not sure if we take them, I don’t think that we do!
I’ll just wait for Elsie, till she’s done on the phone,
I don’t want to make the decision alone.’

‘Ah look! See, she’s finished – Elsie, what do you think?
If we took in this sharps bin, would they kick up a stink?’
‘No, I don’t think we take them, we ought to ask Kate…
I don’t think she’s here yet, she’s coming in late.’

‘Do you think you could come back when there’s more of us here?
We can’t make the decision, I know it sounds queer.
It’s more than our job’s worth! When we got employed
We were told all the things we’re supposed to avoid.’

‘Like being efficient, polite and at ease,
We’re supposed to ignore you and do as we please.
And if you get angry and kick up a fuss,
We’ll tell all and sundry that you wear a truss!’

‘And if you should happen to come in here ill
We’ll make you stand waiting – it gives us a thrill!
There’ll be no appointments if you need to be seen –
We’re supposed to be grumpy, obstructive and mean.’

‘Could you move to the side please? I think I saw Kate!
Perhaps you’d move quicker if you lost some of that weight!
Ah Kate! Can you tell me before you go in,
Do you ever remember us taking a bin?’

‘I don’t think we take them.’ ‘No, that’s what I thought.’
‘Be patient now, madam, please don’t get distraught!’
‘Perhaps if we rang up Elaine in supplies?’
‘She might not have time – she’s up to her eyes!’

‘Oh please will you take it? I’ve been here an hour!
Perhaps I could talk to someone with more power?’
‘There’s Dr. Fitzmichael, I think he will know…
Too late – that’s his Volvo! I just saw it go!’

‘Well…perhaps we could take it, and when he gets back
We’ll find out if that’s why Janine got the sack…
No! Don’t pass it over! I might get infections!
We have to take care with all our collections!’

‘Elsie, pass me those gloves, and Kate - you watch out!
You have to be careful with addicts about!
That is why you’ve got this? Because you take drugs?
I wouldn’t let your type drink out of our mugs!’

‘Now, pass it me slowly, are you sure it’s tight shut?
Imagine of one of those stuck in my foot!
Goodbye! No, you’re welcome – I hope that you’ve learned
We’d rather this wasn’t where your bins are returned…!’ 😱 :D
 
So an NHS choices search results in a big fat no results other than my existing surgery. Ohhhhh joy :( well that rules out a change then .....
 
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